5 strategies the Capitals should do after the holiday break

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Aliaksei Protas, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Washington Capitals hockey finally comes back tonight after a 10 day absence. It was part pause with COVID-19 getting bad again across the sports world as well as a holiday break. Either way, we are back.

The Caps will take on the Nashville Predators tonight at Capital One Arena. The Preds are second in the Central Division in the Western Conference with a 19-10-1 record with 39 points, just one point behind the first place Minnesota Wild. The Caps are tied for first in the Metropolitan Division with 43 points.

Now that the holiday break is over and we’re returning back to hockey here are five strategies the Capitals should try.

Martin Fehervary, Washington Capitals Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

#5 Slight tweak in the penalty kill

The Caps penalty kill is in the middle of the pack tied with the Boston Bruins for 13th place in the NHL with a kill success rate of 81 percent. Compared to the power play, that’s miles better.

Here are the PK units via Daily Face Off:

1st unit: Nic Dowd, Carl Hagelin, Dmitry Orlov, John Carlson

2nd unit: Lars Eller, Garnet Hathaway, Trevor Van Riemsdyk, Matt Irwin

With many players in COVID protocol there isn’t too much you can do with the PK. I’d make this slight adjustment of putting Justin Schultz in John Carlson‘s spot if he was available but alas. But why not flip Matt Irwin for Carlson and add Alex Alexyev or Martin Fehervary to the mix of the second unit?

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