Gameday Preview – 12/6/2018 – Washington Capitals v. Arizona Coyotes

 

 

Washington Capitals (15-9-3 33pts) v. Arizona Coyotes (13-11-2 28pts)

 

Time: 9p EST

Station: NBC Sports Washington and Fox Sports Arizona+

 

Preview:

The Washington Capitals will be looking to get themselves back on their winning ways as they take on the red hot Arizona Coyotes who are currently on a four game winning streak.

CAPS TODAY: Alex Ovechkin is one shot away from setting the record for the fastest player in NHL history to reach 5,000 shots. More information on the captain and the Caps at https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/Eju9JBkoaC

— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) December 6, 2018

 

Washington Capitals:

Projected Lineup:

Caps morning skate lines

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Burakovsky
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Connolly
Stephenson-Eller-DSP
Jaskin-Dowd-Boyd

Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Siegenthaler-Djoos

Copley to start. Wilson out with a concussion. Siegenthaler gets a game while Bowey sits.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 6, 2018

 

Keys to the Game:

1. Play a full 60 minutes

For a second straight game the Capitals went into the 3rd period with a lead, and for the second straight game they blew it with poor play, and a lack of effort, especially in their own zone. The Capitals have to do a much better job at protecting their leads and playing a full 60 minutes.

 

2. Test the kid

Adin Hill has been spectacular so far for the Coyotes and is a huge reason for their 4 game winning streak. The Capitals will need to make him work, and really test him, especially early on in the game.

 

Arizona Coyotes:

Projected Lineup:

Alex Galchenyuk — Nick Schmaltz — Clayton Keller

Richard Panik — Derek Stepan — Christian Fischer

Mario Kempe — Brad Richardson — Vinnie Hinostroza

Lawson Crouse — Nick Cousins — Josh Archibald

Oliver Ekman-Larsson — Kevin Connauton

Jakob Chychrun — Niklas Hjalmarsson

Alex Goligoski — Jordan Oesterle

Adin Hill

Calvin Pickard

Scratched: Ilya Lyubushkin

Injured: Michael Grabner (eye), Jason Demers (lower body), Christian Dvorak (upper body), Darcy Kuemper (lower body), Antti Raanta (lower body)

 

Keys to the Game:

1. Force mistakes

The Capitals have not played solid hockey these past two games, and the Coyotes need to take advantage of that fact.