Washington Capitals (24-11-3 51pts) v. St. Louis Blues (15-18-4 34pts)
Time: 8p EST
Station: NBC Sports Washington, Fox Sports Mid-West, and SportsNet 360
Preview:
The Washington Capitals will be kicking off their 2019 with a match up on the road as they take on the St. Louis Blues. The Capitals will be looking to bounce back from their 6-3 defeat at the hands of the Nashville Predators, while the Blues are looking to pick up a victory and try to turn their fortunes around.
GAME NOTES: Washington kicks off 2019 tomorrow with a game against the St. Louis Blues. https://t.co/nAYkKRthpM pic.twitter.com/Yq5GuvkRVj
— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) January 2, 2019
Washington Capitals:
Projected Lineup:
Caps in practice:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Backstrom-Oshie
Burakovsky-Eller-Connolly
Stephenson-Boyd-DSPD pairs are rotating, so not sure. Weâve seen Orlov with Bowey once and then Bowey with Orpik and Orlov with Niskanen. đ¤ˇđťââď¸
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 2, 2019
Capitals Notes:
Practice hasn't been a good indicator for the fourth line; Reirden changes it every game. Would he play Jaskin against his former team tomorrow? He's been scratched five straight games.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 2, 2019
Reirden said he's hopeful Niskanen will play tomorrow. Indicated that's the direction he's headed.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 2, 2019
John Carlson has been named to the Metropolitan Division All-Star team for the first time in his career. Carlson is tied for third in the NHL in points among defensemen this season. pic.twitter.com/ySzpa3wPcj
— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) January 2, 2019
Braden Holtby has been named to the Metropolitan Division All-Star Team, his fourth straight year he's been selected. Holtby has allowed two goals or fewer in 14 of his 27 games this season, with the Caps posting a record of 12-2-0 in those games. pic.twitter.com/99gipOOTAN
— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) January 2, 2019
Keys to the Game:
1. Don’t Back Off
The capitals were playing great against a then struggling Nashville Predators only to back off when they took a 3-1 lead and then give up 5 unanswered goals to eventually lose the game. The Capitals can not do that against the Blues. Just because the Blues are second to last place in the NHL doesn’t mean you can over look them.
St. Louis Blues:
Projected Lineup:
Jaden Schwartz — Brayden Schenn — Vladimir Tarasenko
Alexander Steen — Ryan O’Reilly — David Perron
Pat Maroon — Tyler Bozak — Robert Thomas
Robby Fabbri — Ivan Barbashev — Oskar Sundqvist
Jay Bouwmeester — Alex Pietrangelo
Joel Edmundson — Colton Parayko
Vince Dunn — Robert Bortuzzo
Jake Allen
Evan Fitzpatrick
Scratched:Â Jordan Schmaltz
Injured: Carl Gunnarsson (hand)
Blues Notes:
SURPRISE!!! (we're kidding!)
Ryan O'Reilly is headed to the 2019 #NHLAllStar Game in San Jose.DETAILS: https://t.co/Q7nXVXjv3x pic.twitter.com/E4FkhGS2pu
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 2, 2019
Keys to the Game:
- How will Vladimir Tarasenko perform?
Tarasenko usually raises his game when going head-to-head with Ovechkin, so if he does that, and can break our of his 2 goals for his last 11 games slump, the Blues stand a small chance. If not, then the key is, flatly, to get lucky. The Capital are a more dominant team in every way – from forwards, to defensemen; depth to goaltending. Failing Tarasenko having a dominant game, any chance the Blues have in winning boils down to simple chance. – Aryan Weisenfeld (TXHT St. Louis Blues Writer)
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