Capitals vs. Oilers Preview: October 24, 2019

by Wesley Hunt · October 24, 2019

The Washington Capitals are ready for their biggest test this year. They face off against the Edmonton Oilers in a battle of division leaders. Connor McDavid and Alex Ovechkin are frequently mentioned in the same breath as the best players in the league. Tonight, their first meeting carries title implications for both.

The Caps are back on top of the Metro Conference. They trail the Buffalo Sabres by one point for the Eastern Conference, but they feel they can go the distance. Alex Ovechkin has been on fire with a seven game point streak, but teammate John Carlson has been even better. Carlson in just eleven games has already scored twenty points, the second-most by a defenseman this early, and even leads the league in points now. Carlson has been leading the team as both a defender and a noted assist specialist.

The Oilers sit at 7-2-1, and tie the Colorado Avalanche for most points in the West with fourteen. Connor McDavid is second to Carlson in assists this season and tied second in overall points. While consistently the MVP of the league, McDavid has only visited the playoffs once. The Oilers have underwhelmed him when it mattered most. With little playoff experience to back up his impressive stats, McDavid looks to make an early push this season to get back there.

The Oilers are undefeated at home, while the Caps are 5-1-0 on the road. A home titan versus a road warrior will be impressive to see, so this early on, we already have a blockbuster game with Cup implications.