Capitals Look to Rebound in Upcoming Clash with Wild
After a disappointing shutout loss to the St. Louis Blues, the Washington Capitals are setting their sights on a crucial encounter with the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul this Tuesday night. The Capitals, who have been silenced offensively more often than they would like this season, are looking to turn the tide and rekindle their scoring prowess.
The recent 3-0 defeat to the Blues marked the fifth time Washington has failed to register a goal in a game this season, a statistic that hasn't been this high since the 2018-19 campaign. This offensive drought is further highlighted by the fact that in 16 of their 44 games played, the Capitals have scored one or fewer goals.
In their matchup against the Blues, the Capitals' offense was notably lackluster, managing only 18 shots on goal throughout the contest. There were periods during the game where Washington could not muster a single shot on target, an area of concern that the team is eager to address. Despite these struggles, it's worth noting that the Capitals had previously constrained the Blues to just 12 shots at 5-on-5 in their prior encounter.
With a day off in Minneapolis on Sunday, the Capitals took the opportunity to regroup and refocus. Monday's practice session was dedicated to preparing for the upcoming games, with particular emphasis on correcting the offensive shortcomings displayed in their last outing.
The Capitals are heading into the game against Minnesota as underdogs, a position they are unaccustomed to but ready to embrace. Leading the charge for Washington are Alexander Ovechkin and Dylan Strome, both having tallied 28 points this season. John Carlson is also making significant contributions with 26 points. Between the pipes, Darcy Kuemper has appeared in 23 games, maintaining a .895 save percentage.
Wild's Formidable Opponents
Minnesota boasts a strong lineup, with Kirill Kaprizov leading the team with an impressive 42 points. Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello follow closely behind, having accrued 36 and 35 points respectively. In goal, Filip Gustavsson has posted a .896 save percentage, providing a reliable last line of defense for the Wild.
However, the Wild are not without their own challenges, as injuries have taken a toll on their roster. Jared Spurgeon is out for the remainder of the season due to hip and back issues, while Sam Hentges is currently sidelined with an undisclosed injury. Frederick Gaudreau and Marc-Andre Fleury are both considered day-to-day with upper-body injuries, and Connor Dewar along with Vinni Lettieri are dealing with lower-body injuries.
Injury Woes for the Capitals
The Capitals are facing injury concerns of their own. Rasmus Sandin and Nicklas Bäckström are out with injuries, leaving noticeable gaps in the team's lineup. Additionally, Sonny Milano is contending with an upper-body injury, further testing the depth of the squad.
Capitals' Coach Carbery Addresses Concerns
Caps' coach Spencer Carbery is taking a proactive stance following the team's recent performance issues. "We're going to get to work," he declared, signaling a no-nonsense approach to their preparation for the Wild. Carbery acknowledged the team's shortcomings against St. Louis, stating, “There’s a lot of things that we failed to do in that St. Louis game that we need to do a way better job of offensively.”
Carbery emphasized the importance of learning from past mistakes and implementing necessary changes. “And so we addressed those, we talked about them, and hopefully we’ll implement those and see those come to life,” he said, expressing hope that the adjustments made in practice will translate into improved performance on the ice.
As the Capitals gear up for their face-off against the Wild, they are acutely aware of the importance of bouncing back with a strong showing. With strategic adjustments and a renewed focus, Washington aims to leave their offensive woes behind and capture a much-needed victory in St. Paul.