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Caps Blue in the Face - Off to Nashville -Holtby Starting |
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The Washington Capitals seem to have their issues with the St. Louis Blues as for the second time in less then two weeks they gave up a lead and watched the Blues walk away with the win. It also was the Caps 5th loss in their last 8 games as the Metro Division leader is just 3 points ahead of third place Pittsburgh and 2 up on Columbus.
Washington came out flat but where able to get the early 1-0 lead on an Alexander Ovechkin power play goal at 7:50. With just 1 one goal in their last 18 PP’s, the Caps historically good power play is still fizzling so the Ovechkin goal from his office should have been a sign of good things to come. The goal was classic Ovechkin as he wired a one-timed slapper short-side over the shoulder of Blues starter Jake Allen.
Allen would play well receiving 1st-star honors. The Blues held the majority of play with 14 shots on Caps goalie Pheonix Copley during the first.
The second periods have been the best for Washington thus far but tonight it was their undoing with the Blues pulling away as the team battling for their playoff lives just looked more engaged then the Caps. Washington would fail to convert on its second power play and it would cost them dearly. In just under five minutes the game turned as the Blues would score 3 goals on 5 shots to help take a 3-1 lead to the third period.
David Perron’s goal that gave the Blues the two-goal lead gave him a career-high 11-game point scoring streak. He added an assist as well.
Vladimir Tarasenko who’d been having an off season, is starting to heat up as I spoke of in the pre-game. He helped erase any chance of a Capitals comeback with his 15th goal midway through the 3rd period on a classic Taresenko snapshot.
The Caps were once again beaten soundly on face-offs winning only 40% with veteran pivot Nicklas Backstrom sitting at 22% for the game. Matt Niskanen was a force with 5 hits and a takeaway as he continues to trend in the right direction after what I thought was a slow start. Obviously, the team wasn’t happy with their performance.
The Capitals (27-13-5) will have an opportunity to move past the loss vs St. Louis quickly as they left immediately after the game for Nashville where they will play the (27-15-4) Predators in the bookend of a back-to-back tonight in Tennesee. It's also their 3rd game in four nights.
Nashville beat the Capitals in their last meeting earning a wild 6-3 decision on New Year's Eve as the Preds where much quicker and more engaged then the hometown Caps. After being down 2-0 and 3-1 early in the game, Nashville would score 5 straight on Caps goalie Braden Holtby.
With five straight victories over Washington, the Predators will have all the confidence facing the defending Stanley Cup champions. Outscoring the Caps 23-12 over that span it seems like the Caps have fits with one of the best defense crews in the NHL led by PK Subban.
Holtby will be back in the pipes tonight for Todd Reirden’s Capitals. The former Vezina winner suffered an eye injury his last start against Columbus that forced him to leave the game but is good to go tonight. He’s stopped 75 of 77 shots he’s faced over his last three appearances after giving up 11 goals over a two-game span shortly after the Christmas break.
Former Capitals draft pick Filip Forsberg will face his old team for the first time this season tonight as he was injured last time the teams met. Washington’s 2012 1st round pick has 18 goals in just 30 games to lead the Preds including two 2-goal games since his return on January 7th. Ryan Johansen leads them in scoring with 40 points.
Preds C Kyle Turris is out today in what has to be an advantage for Washington.
Capital Gain:
Defenseman Brooks Orpik played his 1000th game.
Defenseman Christian Djoos continues to skate while rehabbing.
Washington Capitals Blogger • 
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