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Capitals: Top 3 ways to beat Canadiens

By Michael Marzzacco

VANCOUVER, BC - JANUARY 18: Brenden Dillon #4 of the San Jose Sharks skates with the puck during NHL action against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on January 18, 2020 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - JANUARY 18: Brenden Dillon #4 of the San Jose Sharks skates with the puck during NHL action against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on January 18, 2020 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /
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The Washington Capitals host the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night at Capital One Arena in a very important matchup.

The Washington Capitals come into this game having lost two of their last three games on a road trip. They return home for the first time in a long time out of first place behind the Pittsburgh Penguins whom they’ll see Sunday.

First though the Capitals have to take care of two opponents, first up being the Montreal Canadiens. While they currently hold a 27-27-8 record for 62 points, 10 points back of a playoff spot, this isn’t an opponent the Capitals should take lightly.

With that being said here’s how the Caps can beat the Habs.

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3. Offense has to play a complete game

That’s correct. They cannot show up in the final 20 minutes like they did the other night against the Vegas Golden Knights. Had it not been for T.J. Oshie‘s goals the Capitals would’ve came away with a shutout.

A welcome sign for the offense is the return of Evgeny Kuznetsov from an upper body injury. He’s back in his familiar spot on the second line centering Jakub Vrana and Oshie. That is your line to watch tonight. Lars Eller moves back to the third line and Travis Boyd moves to the fourth while Brendan Leipsic is the healthy scratch.

2. The new defense

I liked the new pairings from morning skate today with Brenden Dillon on the top with John Carlson. Dmitry Orlov and Nick Jensen remain intact while Michal Kempny moves to the third pair with Radko Gudas.

Give this pair a whirl tonight and if one underperforms put in Jonas Siegenthaler the next game. Something tells me the moves aren’t quite finished yet. There is plenty of rumors heating up in the mill about moving Jensen, which would make the most sense since he underperformed his end of the contract.

1. Braden Holtby

Braden Holtby has played well over the last few weeks and improved overall. He gets the nod in goal tonight. It’s time for the new look Capitals defense to play well, the offense to give him a lead and the Holtbeast to do his thing. Sorry haters, Holtby isn’t going anywhere and it’s the right call not moving him.

Must Read. Season review of Dmitry Orlov part 2. light

Holtby made 26 saves on 29 shots the other night against the Golden Knights for an .897 save percentage and has looked better each time. It’s time to get him a win and the team to get back on track.

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