Logan Thompson will be playing in his hometown after signing a six-year extension, as the Washington Capitals try to get back in the win column as their road trip continues against the Calgary Flames, where Andrew Mangiapane will also make his long-awaited homecoming.
Here’s everything to know before puck drop at 9 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Washington Capitals Line Combinations
Washington is sticking with the same combinations it ended Saturday’s loss to the Vancouver Canucks with, as Tom Wilson will stay on the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome while Connor McMichael will continue to operate with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Aliaksei Protas.
Logan Thompson gets the nod.
Here are the combinations:
Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Tom Wilson
Aliaksei Protas-Pierre-Luc Dubois-Connor McMichael
Taylor Raddysh-Lars Eller-Ethen Frank
Brandon Duhaime-Nic Dowd-Andrew Mangiapane
Rasmus Sandin-John Carlson
Martin Fehervary-Matt Roy
Jakob Chychrun-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Logan Thompson
Charlie Lindgren
Washington Capitals Stats
– Aliaksei Protas has points in four straight games and ranks sixth in the NHL in even-strength goals.
– Pierre-Luc Dubois has picked up points in three of his last four outings and has totalled 24 points over the last 23 games, the most on the Capitals.
– Connor McMichael’s still waiting to get back to goal-scoring, but has assists in three of his last four.
Washington Capitals Storylines
– Alex Ovechkin sits 20 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record, and he led the team last game with seven shots on net. Watch for him to try to get back on the scoresheet.
– Dylan Strome has also been getting more looks of late as he looks to bust back out and get back to his game.
– Nic Dowd continues to be vital for D.C. at both ends of the ice, so watch out for him.
– Look out for Andrew Mangiapane, who is returning to Calgary for the first time since being traded. He’s been a stellar fit on that fourth line.
– Anthony Mantha will also face his former club once again.
The highly anticipated matchup between the Washington Capitals and the Calgary Flames is just around the corner, and fans are buzzing with excitement. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the line combinations, stats, and storylines to watch for in this thrilling showdown.
Line Combinations:
Washington Capitals:
1st Line – Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Tom Wilson
2nd Line – Anthony Mantha, Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie
3rd Line – Conor Sheary, Lars Eller, Daniel Sprong
4th Line – Carl Hagelin, Nic Dowd, Garnet Hathaway
Calgary Flames:
1st Line – Johnny Gaudreau, Elias Lindholm, Matthew Tkachuk
2nd Line – Andrew Mangiapane, Mikael Backlund, Blake Coleman
3rd Line – Dillon Dube, Sean Monahan, Tyler Pitlick
4th Line – Milan Lucic, Derek Ryan, Brett Ritchie
Stats:
– The Capitals currently sit in 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 22-8-8, while the Flames are in 3rd place in the Pacific Division with a record of 20-10-6.
– Alex Ovechkin leads the Capitals in goals with 24, while Johnny Gaudreau leads the Flames with 18.
– Evgeny Kuznetsov leads the Capitals in points with 45, while Elias Lindholm leads the Flames with 36.
– Both teams have strong goaltending, with Vitek Vanecek boasting a 2.88 GAA and .909 save percentage for the Capitals, and Jacob Markstrom with a 2.42 GAA and .921 save percentage for the Flames.
Storylines to Watch:
1. Ovechkin vs. Gaudreau – Two elite goal scorers going head-to-head is always a must-watch matchup. Will Ovechkin continue his scoring streak, or will Gaudreau outshine him on the ice?
2. Power Play Battle – Both teams have deadly power play units, with the Capitals ranked 3rd in the league and the Flames ranked 7th. It will be interesting to see which team can capitalize on their opportunities with the man advantage.
3. Goaltending Duel – Vanecek and Markstrom have been solid between the pipes for their respective teams this season. Which goaltender will come up big in this crucial game?
Overall, the Capitals vs. Flames matchup promises to be an exciting and intense game filled with top-tier talent. Be sure to tune in and catch all the action as these two teams battle it out on the ice.
Tags:
Capitals vs. Flames, NHL Preview, Line Combinations, Player Stats, Key Matchups, Game Preview, Storylines to Watch, Hockey Analysis, Game Breakdown
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