Capitals Struggle for Goals Ahead of Minnesota Clash
The Washington Capitals are gearing up for a challenging encounter against the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul this Tuesday night, following a tough weekend loss. The Capitals' offensive woes were on full display as they succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the St. Louis Blues last Saturday.
This season has been particularly trying for Washington's offense, which has been shut out five times—a high not seen since the 2018-19 campaign. Moreover, in nearly half their games—16 out of 44—the Capitals have struggled to light the lamp, scoring one or fewer goals.
Their recent game against the Blues highlighted these struggles, with Washington managing a mere 18 shots on goal throughout the contest. Alarmingly, there were periods during the game when the Capitals failed to register a single shot on target. Despite previously containing the Blues to just 12 shots at 5-on-5, Washington could not capitalize on their defensive efforts and ultimately left the ice without adding to their points tally.
In preparation for their upcoming fixtures, the Capitals took a well-deserved off day in Minneapolis on Sunday before returning to practice on Monday. With the odds stacked against them in the upcoming match against Minnesota, head coach Spencer Carbery is determined to address the team's offensive shortcomings.
"We're going to get to work," Carbery stated, acknowledging the need for improvement after the disappointing performance against St. Louis. "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 added.
Carbery emphasized the importance of learning from their mistakes: "And so we addressed those, we talked about them, and hopefully, we’ll implement those and see those come to life," he said, hopeful for a turnaround in the team's fortunes.
Player Performances and Injuries
On the individual front, Alexander Ovechkin and Dylan Strome have been bright spots for the Capitals, each amassing 28 points this season. John Carlson is close behind, contributing 26 points to the team's cause. Between the pipes, Darcy Kuemper has appeared in 23 games, posting a .895 save percentage.
Conversely, the Wild have been led by Kirill Kaprizov's impressive 42-point haul. Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello have also been key contributors, with 36 and 35 points, respectively. Filip Gustavsson, standing guard in the goal for Minnesota, has recorded a .896 save percentage.
Injury woes have not spared either team, potentially impacting the upcoming matchup. The Wild will be without Jared Spurgeon for the remainder of the season due to hip and back issues, while Sam Hentges remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury. Frederick Gaudreau and Marc-Andre Fleury are both 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 also facing their share of health concerns. Rasmus Sandin and Nicklas Bäckström are out with injuries, while Sonny Milano is contending with an upper-body injury.
Looking Forward
As the Capitals prepare to face the Wild, they are considered underdogs, but the team is no stranger to adversity. With strategic adjustments and a focus on offensive execution, Washington aims to bounce back and regain their scoring touch. The Capitals' ability to overcome their scoring drought will be a critical factor in their pursuit of victory in St. Paul.
With both teams adjusting their lineups due to injuries, it remains to be seen which side will rise to the occasion. As the Capitals seek redemption and the Wild aim to defend their home ice advantage, Tuesday night's clash promises to be a compelling battle in the heart of the NHL season.