Nic Dowd will improve his face off percentage

We have one more Washington Capitals player left to predict on the eve of opening night. Last but simply not least is Nic Dowd who enters his sixth season with the Caps.

Dowd has been a mainstay at the fourth line center position. He has a good track record of winning face offs. He’s also nice like Jay Beagle was so that’s always a plus. Him and his wife Paige both give back to the community and invite families with autism to games all the time with kits to help those fans enjoy the game.

Dowd’s best face off percentage was 56.3 percent in 2019 20. This past season it was at 50.8 percent. Expect it to be in the early to mid 50s percentage range this upcoming season.

Last season was a career year offensively for Dowd. He had a career high 13 goals along with 12 assists for a career high 25 points. What makes this season challenging is that he’ll have new line mates.

Carl Hagelin retired but he did not play anyway last season but in the middle of that tumultuous year he lost his best friend Garnet Hathaway around the trade deadline. Hathaway went to the Boston Bruins and in free agency over the summer he joined the Philadelphia Flyers.

That’s got to stink. I’m sure Bruins Dowd could handle but seeing his buddy go to a Metropolitan Division rival has to hurt. But if there’s one positive he will see Hathaway across the ice more times this season than he would have if he stayed in Boston.

At practice Dowd centered the fourth line between Beck Malenstyn and Anthony Mantha. Matthew Phillips and Mantha rotated so it’s likely Mantha could play against the Penguins while Phillips would get a crack against his old NHL club.

Oh I almost forgot to predict Dowd. I think Dowd wins 54 percent of his face offs and scores 14 goals and adds 14 assists for 25 points.