Caps Today, 3/5/13

Posted on March 05, 2013

Today’s Storyline
The Washington Capitals return to Verizon Center to host the Boston Bruins tonight following a two-game road trip. Washington will be facing Boston for the first time this season and the first time since dispatching the Bruins in seven games in the 2012 Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

The Capitals have gone 11-4-2 in their last 17 regular-season games against Boston, including going 3-1-0 last season. Washington has won three of the last four season series against the Bruins dating back to the 2008-09 season.

 

Upcoming Media
Today, 12:45 p.m.: Alan May on The Sports Fix, ESPN 980 AM
Today, 6:15 p.m.: John Walton on LaVar and Dukes, FAN 106.7 FM

 

Must Read/See/Hear Material

WashingtonCaps.com: Caps Take on Bruins at Verizon
Monumental Network: Rinkside Update 3/4/13 / Alex Ovechkin 3/4/13 / Troy Brouwer 3/4/13 / Karl Alzner 3/4/13 / Braden Holtby 3/4/13 / Adam Oates 3/4/13 / Monumental Today 3/4/13 / Caps Red Line Presented by GEICO 3/4/13

Dump ‘n Chase: Caps Sign And Recall Steve Oleksy / Patience Over Volume

Capitals Voice: Ultimate Highlight: Capitals And Bruins And The 2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

Washington Post: Hamilton: Washington Capitals need to step up in March / Capitals Insider: Capitals sign, recall defenseman Steven Oleksy / Capitals Insider: Mike Green ‘not feeling 100 percent,’ Marcus Johansson close to being cleared for contact / Capitals Insider: Greenberg: Five questions for the Caps in the second half

Washington Times: Braden Holtby perseveres as Capitals’ adjustment to new system begins to pay off / Capitals notes: Aaron Volpatti’s presence could keep gloves on Hendricks, Erskine / Capitals Watch: Capitals sign, recall defenseman Steven Oleksy from Hershey / Capitals Watch: Playoff victory in the past, Capitals hope they can hang with Bruins / Capitals Watch: Bruins’ Zdeno Chara, Dennis Seidenberg make it ‘hard game’ for Caps / Capitals Watch: Alex Ovechkin wants more control of the puck / Capitals Watch: Marcus Johansson ‘should be cleared’ for contact, Adam Oates says

Washington Examiner: For Capitals, Bruins rematch just isn’t the same / Loose Pucks: Caps promote defenseman Steven Oleksy from AHL Hershey

CSN Washington: Capitals sign, recall tough defenseman / Is Cam Ward’s injury a game changer? / Johansson showing jump at practice / Caps learned valuable lessons against Bruins

NHL.com: Capitals, Bruins meet for first time since playoffs

Macomb Daily: Chesterfield Township’s Oleksy set to make NHL debut with Caps

NBCSports.com: Caps preaching proper positioning with Ovechkin

PennLive: Washington Capitals sign and recall Hershey Bears defenseman Steve Oleksy
CBSSports.com: Caps Expect to Have ‘Hands Full’ Against Bitter Bruins
106.7 The Fan: Aaron Volpatti / Jeff Schultz

Teds Take: Bleacher Report Founder Talks / “Who Are You Wearing?” / Wall Excels Late as Nene Returns to Lineup / Can’t Do Enough

Recent Transactions
March 4 Signed and recalled Steven Oleksy from Hershey
Feb. 28 Claimed Aaron Volpatti off of Waivers from Vancouver
Feb. 28 Assigned Philipp Grubauer and Casey Wellman to Hershey
Feb. 27 Recalled Philipp Grubauer from Hershey
Feb. 26 Recalled Casey Wellman from Hershey

Injury Update
D Mike Green – day-to-day
D Jack Hillen – day-to-day
F Brooks Laich – day-to-day
F Marcus Johansson – day-to-day

GAME NOTES

STATS

Holtby shuts the door – Braden Holtby’s three shutouts this season are more than Washington’s team leader had in that department in 23 of the team’s previous 37 seasons of existence. With six career shutouts, Holtby has tied Pat Riggin and Rick Tabaracci for seventh on the franchise’s all-time list. Riggin needed 143 games to get his six shutouts; Tabaracci needed 69 games. Holtby recorded his sixth shutout in his 35th career NHL game.

 

Proud Perreault – Mathieu Perreault has tallied four points (three goals, one assist) in four career games against the Bruins, including his first NHL hat trick on Jan. 24, 2012, at Verizon Center. Perreault recorded all four of those points last season against Boston.

 

Streaking – Braden Holtby started his ninth consecutive game on March 2 at Winnipeg. The last goaltender to start 10 consecutive games for Washington was Tomas Vokoun last season from Dec. 28 – Jan. 17. The last Capitals goaltender to start more than 10 straight games was Olie Kolzig, who started 16 consecutive games from Oct. 17, 2003 – Nov. 22, 2003. 

 

Erskine producing – John Erskine added an assist on the game-winning goal on March 2 at Winnipeg, his second assist of the season and fourth point in 2012-13. Erskine has already surpassed his goal and point totals from last season and his two goals, two assists and four points are the most points he has recorded in a single season since a four goal, seven assist season in 2010-11. Erskine has averaged 19:35 of ice time per game this season, his highest ice time per game in his 11-season career.

Early success – Joel Ward scored Washington’s lone goal on Feb. 27 at Philadelphia, his sixth goal of the season, in his 19th game played in 2012-13. Ward scored six goals total in 2011-12 in 73 games played and is just five points shy of tying his point output from last season. Ward currently leads the Capitals with a plus-nine rating and ranks tied for 26th in the league in plus/minus.

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