Capitals Look to Rebound Against Wild After St. Louis Shutout
The Washington Capitals are set to face off against the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul on Tuesday night, aiming to bounce back from a challenging defeat. The team's recent performance was lackluster as they succumbed to a 3-0 loss against the St. Louis Blues last Saturday night.
This season has been particularly tough for Washington, with the team being shut out five times—a high not seen since the 2018-19 season. Scoring has been a notable issue; in 16 of their 44 games, the Capitals have managed one or fewer goals, highlighting an area of concern for the coaching staff and players alike.
During their encounter with the Blues, the Capitals' offense struggled significantly, registering a mere 18 shots on goal. Notably, there were periods within the game where Washington failed to record a single shot on target, a statistic that underscores their offensive woes. Despite these challenges, it is worth mentioning that the Capitals had previously held the Blues to just 12 shots at 5-on-5, showcasing their defensive capabilities.
Team Dynamics and Preparations
Following the loss, the Capitals took a day off in Minneapolis on Sunday, likely to regroup and refocus ahead of their next matchup. Monday saw them return to practice, diligently preparing for the upcoming games and addressing the shortcomings evident in their play against St. Louis.
Despite their efforts to improve, the Capitals are considered underdogs in the upcoming game against Minnesota. This perception may be influenced by both teams' recent performances and key player statistics. For instance, Alexander Ovechkin and Dylan Strome have each accumulated 28 points this season for Washington, while John Carlson has contributed 26 points. Darcy Kuemper, who has appeared in 23 games, holds a .895 save percentage.
On the other side, the Wild's Kirill Kaprizov leads his team with 42 points, followed closely by Joel Eriksson Ek with 36 points and Mats Zuccarello contributing 35 points. Filip Gustavsson's save percentage stands at .896, a figure comparable to Kuemper's, suggesting a potentially tight goaltender matchup.
Injury Concerns
Injuries have also plagued both teams, affecting their rosters and possibly influencing the outcome of the upcoming game. Jared Spurgeon of the Wild is out 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 injury troubles. Rasmus Sandin and Nicklas Bäckström are out with injuries, and Sonny Milano is contending with an upper-body injury, adding to the list of players unavailable for selection.
Coaching Perspective
Capitals' coach Spencer Carbery expressed a determined outlook despite recent setbacks. "We're going to get to work," he stated, signaling a proactive approach to overcoming the team's struggles. Carbery acknowledged the deficiencies displayed in the game against St. Louis, emphasizing the need for better offensive execution. "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 admitted.
Carbery also highlighted the team's response to their poor performance, noting that they have addressed the issues and discussed improvements. "And so we addressed those, we talked about them, and hopefully we’ll implement those and see those come to life," said Carbery, indicating that fans might expect a more refined and effective Capitals team in the upcoming games.
As the Capitals gear up to take on the Wild, the focus will be on translating their practice efforts into tangible results on the ice. With both teams navigating through injuries and looking to solidify their positions, Tuesday night's game promises to be a critical juncture in their respective seasons.