The Washington Capitals may be in the middle of some heated rumors right now but let’s not forget they play a hockey game tonight. They will host the Vegas Golden Knights in their second of a three game homestand. It’s their first matchup with Vegas since Feb. 17, 2020 which was a 3-2 loss at T-Mobile Arena. They’ll meet again in Sin City on April 20.
Evgeny Kuznetsov leads the Capitals with eight points with two goals and six assists in five career games against Vegas, recording a point in his four most recent games. Nicklas Backstrom, the overtime hero on Saturday, leads the Caps with four goals against Vegas in his career.
In Washington’s 3-2 win the other night over the Ottawa Senators the Caps came back from a 2-0 deficit. Before Nicky’s heroics, Alex Ovechkin scored twice in the third period. Ovechkin is on a seven game point streak with five goals and three assists. Kuznetsov is on a seven game point streak of his own with two goals and six assists. Backstrom is on a two game point streak with two goals and an assist and also on a two game goal streak. Trevor van Riemsdyk is on a two game point streak and assist streak with two assists.
Backstrom’s overtime goal marked his ninth career overtime goal, the second most in franchise history (Ovechkin: 24). Backstrom has recorded a point in seven of his nine games this season and 12 points shy of becoming the second player in franchise history to record 1,000 career points, where he would join Ovechkin.
Media availability with John Carlson after today's morning skate.#CapsKnights | @MedStarHealth pic.twitter.com/CEK8ecT1qe
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 24, 2022
The Caps held a morning skate today at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. John Carlson was on the ice for morning skate ahead of their game. He was in COVID protocols. Nick Jensen wasn’t on the ice due to an upper body injury and neither was T.J. Oshie who’s on IR with an upper body injury. Oshie is day to day.
Capitals lines at morning skate:
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) January 24, 2022
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Sheary
McMichael-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Protas-Eller-Leason
Hagelin-Dowd-Hathaway
Fehervary-Carlson
Orlov-Schultz
Kempny-TvR
Jensen is listed as week to week. He was hurt last Thursday against the Boston Bruins. Dmitry Orlov comes back after his two game suspension. Carlson returns as well. Daniel Sprong is still a healthy scratch. Conor Sheary moves to the top line. Vitek Vanecek was the first goaltender off the ice meaning he will get the start tonight, his fourth straight.
Can the Caps build off their win on Saturday? Here’s how to find out:
Date: Jan. 24, 2022
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Capital One Arena
What Channel Is The Capitals Game On: NBC Sports Washington
Radio: 106.7 The Fan
Betting Odds: The betting odds on WynnBET have the Capitals as -1.5 favorites at home against the Golden Knights. The moneyline has the Caps at -145 and the VGK at +125. The over/under for tonight’s game is 6.0.
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