Caps (6-0-0, 12 points) vs. Red Wings (5-0-0, 10 points)
What – Game #7
Where – Verizon Center
When – 7 p.m.
TV – CSN HD
Radio – WFED-1500 AM
Caps get a graduate-level course in puck possession tonight when they face the Detroit Red Wings at Verizon Center. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it’s only the second time in NHL history two teams at 5-0-0 or better have faced each other. It’s been a pretty good stretch of games for Washington early in the NHL season and that will continue with a game at Vancouver next Saturday.
“I was trying to really focus on their highlights from [playing Columbus on Friday],” Caps defenseman Karl Alzner said. “Just the way they scored some of their goals. No matter how much you study them or what you know about them they’re still going to be hard to play against. It’s just trying to outwork them, I guess. They have a ton of skill at their forwards. A lot more skill than I do. The only way I can beat them is by outworking them so that’s what I’m going to try and do.”
Good advice for everyone tonight. The lineup likely remains the same. Alex Ovechkin and Brooks Laich took their option and didn’t skate this morning at Kettler Iceplex, but are good to go, according to Washington coach Bruce Boudreau. Both players earned some bumps and bruises this week.
The Red Wings have allowed the fewest goals per game in the NHL (1.40) – or seven total in five games. The power play is 4-for-24 (15th). They have allowed three goals on the penalty kill in 15 tries (24th). Both teams have been excellent so far at staying out of the penalty box. Detroit ranks fifth in the NHL at 9.2 penalty minutes per game and the Caps rank first at 8.2. These are also the two highest-scoring teams in the league – 3.67 goals per game for Washington to 3.60.
“They’re the masters [at puck possession],” Boudreau said. “If you want to learn anything about puck possession you just watch their team. We’re just young students compared to what they have.”
The lineup should look the same as it did in Philadelphia on Thursday. Boudreau confirmed yesterday’s tweet from WashCaps.com senior staff writer Mike Vogel that forward Jay Beagle is now listed week-to-week on the injury report. We suspect Beagle has a concussion after HIS Oct. 13 fight with Pittsburgh’s Arron Asham. But the team doesn’t officially disclose those things. Beagle has not been made available to the media. No specific timeline on a return, according to Boudreau.
Possible that defenseman John Erskine gets cleared by team doctors tonight. He was expected to meet to Dr. Ben Shaffer at Verizon Center. Erskine took the scratches’ skate with D.J. King, Michal Neuvirth and Dany Sabourin, who will again serve as the backup to Tomas Vokoun. Neuvirth is still nursing that sore right foot, but Boudreau said he will accompany the team on its trip to western Canada next week.
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