Capitals Look to Rebound Against Wild After Shutout Loss
The Washington Capitals, seeking to bounce back from a recent defeat, are set to face off against the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul on Tuesday night. The Capitals are coming off a tough Saturday night game where they were blanked 3-0 by the St. Louis Blues.
This season has been challenging for Washington's offense, as the team has been shut out five times—the highest number of scoreless games since the 2018-19 season. Furthermore, the Capitals have struggled to find the net consistently, scoring one or fewer goals in 16 of their 44 games thus far.
In their last outing against the Blues, the Capitals' offensive woes were evident as they managed only 18 shots on goal throughout the contest. There were periods during the game when Washington failed to register a single shot on goal, underscoring their difficulties in generating offensive pressure. Despite these struggles, the Capitals had previously shown defensive prowess by limiting the Blues to just 12 shots at 5-on-5 in an earlier matchup.
The Capitals utilized Sunday for rest and recuperation in Minneapolis, turning their focus to practice on Monday to prepare for the upcoming challenges, including their game against the Wild.
Despite their efforts, the Capitals are considered underdogs in the upcoming clash with Minnesota. This is perhaps a reflection of their inconsistent performance this season and the impressive form of their opponents.
Player Performances and Team Injuries
On the individual front, Alexander Ovechkin and Dylan Strome have both been bright spots for Washington, each tallying 28 points this season. John Carlson is not far behind, contributing 26 points to the team's effort. Between the pipes, Darcy Kuemper has seen action in 23 games, posting a .895 save percentage.
Minnesota's roster boasts some notable talent, with Kirill Kaprizov leading the Wild with an impressive 42 points. Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello have also made significant contributions, amassing 36 and 35 points respectively. Filip Gustavsson, sharing goaltending duties, has recorded a .896 save percentage.
Injury woes have not spared either team. The Wild will be without Jared Spurgeon for the remainder of the season due to hip and back issues. Additionally, Sam Hentges is sidelined with an undisclosed injury. Frederick Gaudreau and Marc-Andre Fleury are listed as day-to-day with upper-body injuries, while Connor Dewar and Vinni Lettieri are dealing with lower-body injuries.
The Capitals are contending with their own share of injuries. Key players Rasmus Sandin and Nicklas Bäckström are out with injuries, and Sonny Milano is currently managing an upper-body injury. These absences are sure to be felt on the ice as Washington looks to improve their offensive output and climb up the standings.
Coaching Perspective
Caps' coach Spencer Carbery expressed determination to address the team's offensive shortcomings. "We're going to get to work," he stated, emphasizing the need for improvement following the loss to St. Louis. Carbery acknowledged the multiple areas that require attention, saying, “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 also indicated that the team has discussed these issues and is looking to implement changes. “And so we addressed those, we talked about them, and hopefully we’ll implement those and see those come to life,” he said, suggesting that the Capitals are poised to make the necessary adjustments to their gameplay.
As the Capitals gear up for their next game, the team's ability to translate their practice efforts into tangible results on the ice will be crucial. With the Wild presenting a formidable challenge, Washington will need to leverage every ounce of skill and strategy to secure a much-needed victory.