Capitals: Top 3 keys to victory against Panthers
The Washington Capitals are back in action with a road stop in Sunrise, Florida before returning back home to host the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Washington Capitals are playing an excellent brand of hockey and they’ve shown the hockey world that they’re a force to be reckoned with throughout the first month of the season and so far into November. They’ll look to continue that upward trend tonight against an improved Florida Panthers team boasting one of Washington’s former superstars.
The Capitals look to win their fifth game in a row. Here are the top three keys to how they could do that.
3. Keep killing it
The Capitals penalty kill was upgraded with a few offseason additions and so far they’ve stood tall while the opposition was pressing on the power play. The Caps have killed off 50 of their 58 penalties for a success rate of 86.2% which ranks them eighth in the NHL. Jonas Siegenthaler (49:54), Radko Gudas (47:23), Carl Hagelin (46:08), and Nick Jensen (40:36) led the team in penalty kill time after establishing roles beginning in just 2019 alone.
It’s a mega improvement from last season. One year ago through the first 16 games, the Caps ranked 29th on the penalty kill and allowed a power play goal in 12 of those 16.
2. Take command early
The Washington Capitals are the best road team in hockey with a 7-1-1 record. They’ve proven no matter how tough the environment they’ve stood up to the task. Florida isn’t necessarily the loudest barn but even so the Caps need to show they haven’t skipped a beat playing on the road.
The Capitals have improved defensively but it hasn’t affected their offense at all. In fact, it may have made them better. The Caps have scored at least three or more goals in 13 straight games. They’ll look to light the lamp multiple times but will face a challenge with Sergei Bobrovsky getting the likely start.
1. The play of Braden Holtby
This game could come down to one of two things, either lots of offense or spectacular goaltending. With two Vezina Trophy winners going head to head expect nothing less than a duel between two netminders in Braden Holtby and Sergei Bobrovsky.
light. More. Capitals at Panthers game info
Holtby comes into tonight’s game with a 6-1-3 record with a 3.30 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage. He also comes into tonight’s game having won four of his last five games. Bobrovsky carries a 6-2-3 mark with a 3.36 GAA and a save percentage of .882. Bobrovsky has won three of his last four games.