Washington Capitals Vs. Boston Bruins: Preview, Broadcast Info

The Washington Capitals seek to snap a modest losing streak in Boston tonight, challenging the Bruins in their second of three contests this season.

The Washington Capitals (28-7-3) didn’t exactly end 2015 with the bang they were hoping for – dropping their final game of the year 4-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes. The second day of 2016 brought another loss – albeit bearing a loser point from the 5-4 shootout loss Columbus Blue Jackets. Three days later, the Caps will hunt for another opportunity to celebrate; this time renewing acquaintances with the Bruins (20-13-4) in Boston’s TD Garden.

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The Boston Bruins may be seeking similar vindication after an embarrassing display at Gillette Stadium in Foxsboro – where they were badly outplayed by the Montreal Canadiens in a 5-1 Winter Classic loss on New Year’s Day. For the B’s, another loss could drop them below the Ottawa Senators for fifth place in the tightly contested Atlantic Division and out of the current NHL Wild Card race.

Unfortunately for Boston, this next “must win” game comes against a team that has had their number (and the Atlantic Division’s number for that matter) in recent history. Washington has won four straight against Boston and two of the last three in TD Garden. The two teams’ previous meeting this season on November 5th concluded with a satisfying 4-1 thumping in Verizon Center. For the Caps, the Bruins should be pretty choice opposition to snap a two-game losing skid.

Head coach Barry Trotz appears to have plenty of motivation for his troops. “I expect us to rebound against Boston,” Trotz told NHL.com. “They’re going to be motivated after the Winter Classic, they’re back home. We’ve got to get a win. We got a point tonight; it wasn’t a regulation loss. But still, we pride ourselves on bouncing back. We’ve got to find a way to win.”

While goaltender Braden Holtby‘s three shutouts and 8-2-0 career record against the Bruins have certainly played a part in frustrating Bostonians in recent memory, the Capitals will be facing Boston with a significantly diminished roster due to a rash of injuries. Jay Beagle will be missing in action, leaving Washington with more than a few holes to fill. Brooks Orpik and John Carlson will join the team on the road trip, but both are doubtful to play.

“He is going to make the trip,” Trotz said of Carlson. “I would say he is very doubtful to play [Tuesday in Boston]. I would hopefully anticipate him playing somewhere after [Tuesday].”

For those keeping tabs; Washington has now lost 35 man-games to injury, although most of that is from the loss of Orpik to a November 11 lower-body injury. Orpik is reportedly finally skating with the team again, but after re-aggravating the injury last month in practice, there doesn’t appear to be a time table for his return yet.

Nov 5, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after scoring a goal on Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) in the first period at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

The vacancies on the blue line bench have brought up a slew of talent from the AHL Hershey Bears. Connor Carrick filled in admirably for Carlson for three games before making way for Aaron Ness on the third pairing. Taylor Chorney and Dmitry Orlov look to be getting their first full season of NHL hockey under their respective belts. Former Vancouver Canuck Ryan Stanton has also been called up from the Bears, while Zach Sill has played relief at center.

For better or worse, the recent crop of injuries is testing two components of the Capitals’ roster that I don’t necessarily think are so bad. Firstly, the time to test our positional depth is prior to reaching the playoffs – not during (although former Penguin Taylor Chorney may tell you differently). Secondly, with the February 29 trade deadline now in focus for many teams, the time to showcase potential trade pieces is now.

Lastly, the roster shakeups provide a golden opportunity for players like Andre Burakovsky, who has struggled in my eyes to make an impression on the team and has been demoted to the fourth line for most of the season. Marcus Johansson took over third line center duties from the combination of Sill and Michael Latta, giving Burakovsky a promotion to second line left wing alongside heavy producers Evgeny Kuznetsov and Justin Williams.

For the Bruins, Joonas Kemppainnen may return to the lineup at center according to Boston head coach Claude Julien after missing the last 11 games with an upper-body injury. Forward David Pastrnak will not see time on the Bruins’ bench despite returning from Helsinki’s 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, instead heading to Providence after recovering from an October foot injury.

WHAT: Washington Capitals at Bostron Bruins

WHEN: Tuesday, January 5th at 7:00PM EST

WHERE: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

TV INFO: CSN

RADIO INFO: Caps Radio 24/7, Caps Mobile App, Caps Radio Network

LIVE STREAM: NHL Gamecenter

Next: Alex Ovechkin Named Captain of Metropolitan Division All-Star Squad

Stay tuned to Stars and Sticks for continuing coverage of Washington Capitals hockey.

LET’S GO CAPS!!

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