Capitals face-off against rival Penguins: Full game preview 

10/11      Penguins (1-1-1) at Capitals (2-0-1)

TV: 7:30 pm; NBC Sports Netowrk

Last game- Penguins defeated Nashville, 4-0. Olli Maatta with a goal and an assist. Evgeni Malkin, Ryan Reaves and Jake Guentzel all scored, as well. Bryan Rust and Sidney Crosby each had two helpers.

Last game- Capitals lost to Tampa Bay, 4-3 in overtime. T.J. Oshie with two goals and an assist. Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and two assists. Alexander Ovechkin was held scoreless.

Washington keys to success:

  • Capitals forwards: Penguins goaltender, Matt Murray, has the worst GAA in the NHL, 3.84, and it is important that the offense is clicking on all cylinders. Washington is in the top five on the PP (33.3%), thanks to multiple power play goals by Backstrom, Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov. The team is averaging 4.33 goals a game, and Kuznetsov leads the team with a +8, followed by a +7 from Ovechkin, who through three games has a shooting percentage of 38.9, which is off the charts.
  • Shots on Goal: Currently, the Capitals are at the bottom averaging 26 shots per game. Ovechkin is doing his part, but others like Backstrom, Oshie, Kuznetsov, Eller, etc., need to start putting the puck on the net, and with Pittsburgh’s save percentage at .856, this is an important key, if Washington wants to win the game.

Injury Update:

Washington-None

Pittsburgh-Ian Cole (mouth)-out

Patrick Hornqvist (hand)-out

 

Projected lines for Washington:

Forwards

Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Vrana

Burakovsky-Backstrom-Oshie

Connolly-Eller-Smith Pelly

Graovac-Beagle-Walker

 

Defense

Niskanen-Carlson

Chorney-Orlov

Orpik-Bowey/Djoos

 

Goaltender

Holtby

Grubauer

 

 

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