Caps Today, 3/10/13

Posted on March 10, 2013

Today’s Storyline
The Washington Capitals play the second half of back-to-back games today as they host the New York Rangers.

Alex Ovechkin has collected 699 career NHL points in his first eight seasons in the league. Ovechkin is one point shy of becoming just the third player to record 700 points while with Washington and would become just the 22nd player in NHL history to record 700 or more points in their first eight seasons in the league.  

 

Must Read/See/Hear Material

WashingtonCaps.com: Caps Host Rangers in Sunday Matinee
Monumental Network: Adam Oates Postgame 3/9/13 / Caps Postgame Locker Room 3/9/13 / Adam Oates Pregame 3/9/13 / Two-Man Advantage 3/9/13 / Scouting Report: New York Islanders / Monumental Today 3/9/13

Dump ‘n Chase: Postgame Notebook 3-9-13: Islanders 5, Caps 2 / Grubauer Makes First NHL Start on Island

Washington Post: Capitals vs. Islanders: Penalties cost Washington in loss to John Tavares and New York / Capitals Insider: John Erskine injured in Capitals’ loss to Islanders / Capitals Insider: Open thread: Capitals at Islanders / Capitals Insider: Philipp Grubauer to make first NHL start against Islanders

CSN Washington: Capitals host Rangers with home-win streak on line / Capitals washed away off the island / Caps-Islanders pregame notebook

NHL: NHL on NBC: Rangers, Caps look to bounce back / Rangers visit Capitals with each coming off loss / Tavares’ two quick strikes lead Islanders past Capitals / 8 Debate: Several players vie for No. 1 Left Wing (Alex Ovechkin mentioned)

Associated Press: Rangers-Capitals Preview / Capitals leave rookie goalie on an island in loss

NBCSports.com: Third-period penalties burn Capitals against Islanders
Teds Take: The Real Big East / Tough Loss to the Nets / Meh is Right

Russian Machine Never Breaks: Prospects Jaynen Rissling, Tom Wilson Have Big Games

Recent Transactions
March 10 Assigned Philipp Grubauer to Hershey
March 7 Recalled Philipp Grubauer from Hershey
March 6 Roman Hamrlik claimed off of waivers by the New York Rangers
March 4 Signed and recalled Steven Oleksy from Hershey

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

GAME NOTES

STATS

TOP FIVE CAPS FACTS

Empire state of mind – The Capitals are 11-6-2 in their last 19 regular-season games against the Rangers and 6-3-1 on home ice. Alex Ovechkin has recorded 29 points (15g-14a) in 29 career games vs. the Rangers.

Afternoon back-to-backs – The Capitals have gone 3-2-0 in afternoon games this season (before 6 p.m.) and 1-1-1 in the second half of back-to-backs. Washington owns a record of 1-0-1 in the second game of back-to-backs following a loss.

 

Home ice – The Capitals have won each of their last four home games (Feb. 23 – March 7), their first four-game home winning streak of the season and the first since winning seven consecutive home contests from Dec. 20, 2011 – Jan. 15, 2012 of last season. 

Streaking – Braden Holtby started 11 consecutive games from Feb. 9 - March 7 vs. Florida. The last Capitals goaltender to start more than 11 straight games was Olie Kolzig, who started 16 consecutive games from Oct. 17, 2003 – Nov. 22, 2003 (courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau). 

 

Explosive offense – The Capitals scored four goals in the game’s first 8:10 on March 7 vs. Florida. That marks the second-fastest four goals scored to start a game in Capitals history. The first came in 6:49 on 1/21/86 vs. the Minnesota North Stars. The four first-period goals tied a season high for a single period while the seven goals scored were a single-game high this season for Washington.  

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