Vancouver Canucks at Washington Capitals: Preview, Lineups
The Vancouver Canucks have lost their last three games to the Washington Capitals, who are struggling to gain momentum of their own.
This road trip can’t end soon enough for the Vancouver Canucks, who have enjoyed more success playing at home.
Today, they have to face the Washington Capitals, a team that’s had their number the last couple of seasons.
Can they get through this brutal road trip with a victory in D.C.? It would certainly help a team that’s lacked consistency. But facing Alex Ovechkin and Braden Holtby will be a major challenge for a team that’s made every game seem difficult.
VancouverCanucks
WashingtonCapitals
Vancouver Canucks
OVERVIEW:
2016-17 Record: 12-14-2
Away Record: 4-9-1
2015-16 Record vs. Capitals: 0-2-0
Goals For: 67
Goals Against: 83
Power Play: 14.1% (26th)
Penalty Kill: 84.9% (8th)
Leading Scorers: Daniel Sedin (28 GP - 9 G – 10 A -19 PTS), Henrik Sedin (28 GP – 7 G – 11 A – 18 PTS) Bo Horvat (28 GP – 8 G -8 A -16 PTS)
Injuries: Ryan Miller (undisclosed, day-to-day), Philip Larsen (upper body, day-to-day), Alexander Edler (broken finger, late December/early January), Derek Dorsett (neck, out for season), Chris Tanev (foot, indefinitely), Anton Rodin (knee, day-to-day).
WHO’S ON OFFENCE:
Daniel Sedin: He’s struggling with just five points in his last nine games, but Daniel is leading the game in goals. Will the 30-year-old version of him start showing up?
Bo Horvat: Horvat’s quietly been this team’s best forward all season. Can he continue to blossom into a franchise centre?
WHO’S ON DEFENCE:
Erik Gudbranson: He’s been hot-and-cold since the beginning of November. Will we see the real Gudbranson soon?
WHO’S IN NET:
Jacob Markstrom: His last couple of starts have been lackluster at best. He’s going to need to string a hot streak if he wants to take the starter’s role from Ryan Miller.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Daniel Sedin — Henrik Sedin — Jannik Hansen
Markus Granlund — Brandon Sutter — Loui Eriksson
Sven Baertschi — Bo Horvat — Alex Burrows
Brendan Gaunce — Michael Chaput — Jack Skille
Ben Hutton — Erik Gudbranson
Luca Sbisa — Troy Stecher
Nikita Tryamkin — Alex Biega
Jacob Markstrom
Thatcher Demko
Washington Capitals
OVERVIEW:
2016-17 Record: 16-7-3
Home Record: 10-4
2015-16 Record vs. Canucks: 2-0-0
Goals For: 69
Goals Against: 59
Power Play: 16.7% (16th)
Penalty Kill: 82.3% (16th)
Leading Scorers: Nicklas Backstrom (26 GP – 8 G – 16 A – 24 PTS), Marcus Johansson (26 GP -12 G – 9 A – 21 PTS), Alexander Ovechkin (26 GP – 12 G -7 A – 19 PTS).
Injuries: Matt Niskanen (body, day-today).
More from The Canuck Way
WHO’S ON OFFENCE:
Alexander Ovechkin: He may not lead them in scoring, but Ovechkin’s scoring touch will be a good challenge against a young Canucks defence.
Nicklas Backstrom: The Capitals’ leading scorer is carrying an underachieving offense. Can Erik Gudbranson and Ben Hutton shut him down?
WHO’S ON DEFENCE:
John Carlson: He’s the Capitals top blueliner with his slick puck-moving skillls and is tough to score against. The Canucks will be in for a rude awakening.
WHO’S IN NET:
Braden Holtby: The defending Vezina Trophy winner rarely has a bad day. The Canucks could sure use an offensive outburst against him.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Alexander Ovechkin – Evgeny Kuznetsov — Justin Williams
Marcus Johansson – Nicklas Backstrom — T.J. Oshie
Andre Burakovsky – Lars Eller — Jakub Vrana
Daniel Winnik – Jay Beagle — Tom Wilson
Karl Alzner – John Carlson
Brooks Orpik – Dmitri Orlov
Nate Schmidt – Taylor Chorney
Braden Holtby
Philipp Grubauer
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