Capitals Look to Rebound Against Wild After Recent Shutout
The Washington Capitals are set to face off against the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on Tuesday night, aiming to bounce back from a disappointing performance over the weekend.
This past Saturday, the Capitals were blanked by the St. Louis Blues, suffering a 3-0 defeat. This shutout marks the fifth time this season that Washington has failed to score in a game, a statistic not seen since the 2018-19 season. The Capitals' offense has been struggling, with the team scoring one or fewer goals in 16 of their 44 games thus far.
Against the Blues, Washington managed only 18 shots on goal and experienced periods without a single shot on target. Despite these offensive woes, the Capitals had previously shown defensive prowess, holding the Blues to just 12 shots on net at 5-on-5 during an earlier matchup.
Capitals' Preparation for Upcoming Challenges
Following their loss, the Capitals took a day off in Minneapolis on Sunday to regroup before hitting the ice again on Monday for practice. With the upcoming schedule in mind, the team focused on addressing their offensive shortcomings.
"We're going to get to work," vowed Capitals' coach Spencer Carbery, signaling a determined mindset for the forthcoming games. Carbery expressed dissatisfaction with the team's execution in the offensive zone against St. Louis, highlighting the need for improvement. "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," he said. Carbery is hopeful that the strategies discussed and practiced will translate into more effective play: “And so we addressed those, we talked about them, and hopefully we’ll implement those and see those come to life."
Underdog Status and Team Standouts
As the Capitals prepare to take on the Wild, they are considered underdogs. However, they boast notable talent within their ranks. Alexander Ovechkin and Dylan Strome have both accumulated 28 points this season, while John Carlson has contributed 26 points. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who has appeared in 23 games, holds a .895 save percentage.
On the opposing side, the Wild's Kirill Kaprizov leads his team with an impressive 42 points. Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello have also made significant contributions, with 36 and 35 points respectively. In net, Filip Gustavsson boasts a .896 save percentage for Minnesota.
Injury Report
Both teams are contending with injuries to key players. The Wild will be without Jared Spurgeon for the remainder of the season due to hip and back issues, while Sam Hentges is sidelined with an undisclosed injury. Additionally, Frederick Gaudreau and Marc-Andre Fleury are listed as day-to-day with upper-body injuries, and Connor Dewar along with Vinni Lettieri are dealing with lower-body injuries.
The Capitals are not without their own health concerns. Rasmus Sandin and Nicklas Bäckström are out with injuries, and Sonny Milano is currently nursing an upper-body injury.
Looking Ahead
As the Capitals gear up for their clash with the Wild, the team is aware of the challenges ahead. With key players sidelined and recent struggles to find the back of the net, Washington's ability to adapt and overcome adversity will be tested. Coach Carbery's adjustments and the team's response to their recent shutout will be pivotal in their pursuit of a victory in St. Paul.
With both teams eager to claim two points, Tuesday night's game promises to be a compelling battle on the ice. The Capitals hope to turn the tide and ignite their offense, while the Wild aim to capitalize on their home advantage and continue building upon their individual successes. As the puck drops, all eyes will be on how Washington responds to their recent setbacks and whether they can thwart Minnesota's dynamic scorers.