Courtesy: Bluejackets.NHL.com
It’s no secret that the Washington Capitals play better at the friendly confines of the Verizon Center and they will need the help as they look to get back into the win column versus the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday night for what will be the visiting team’s final trip to D.C. this season.
The last time these two teams met, it was a Saturday soiree for the Capitals on Oct. 19 as they defeated the Blue Jackets 4-1 on home ice. Washington is looking for a similar result as they hope to return to their winning ways after suffering two ugly defeats this weekend at the hands of the Phoenix Coyotes and the Colorado Avalanche. Washington also happens to be 6-3-0 at home this season.
One interesting streak was ended for the Capitals this weekend as their undefeated mark under head coach Adam Oates’ guidance in shootouts — it was 7-0 previously — now has a blemish on it as they lost in shootout fashion to the Coyotes 4-3. Sunday, the team tried, but they were just facing a far superior Avalanche team that dominated them 4-1.
As far as changes go, there are none to be talked about as far as personnel as concerned for the boys in red Tuesday night. Oates said this morning at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex that he will keep the lines intact from the last two contests, despite going 0-1-1 and Braden Holtby will be between the pipes despite his shoddy effort Sunday,
Oates has said in the past that he only communicates with his guys at practice and leaves them to themselves to think after games. After going on a four-game winning streak, dropping back-to-back games probably had the guys in the locker room more than thinking about what they must do in order to get better as a hockey team.
Sometimes, it’s all about who is hot and who is not in any sport, but looking at how streaky the Capitals have been this year, it may be signs of inconsistency coming to light once again for this franchise. The keys for this team to bounce back and get off of the snide are to get more out of their top line, possess the puck more than the Blue Jackets by allowing for more than a single shot each possession, backchecking defensively and better goaltending effort.
Talks around this team always surround just how much effort this team puts forth, but there was effort there over the weekend, they just didn’t stay aggressive enough when they had the game won against Phoenix and were simply outplayed by Colorado.
If the Capitals want to legitimize themselves as contenders in the Eastern Conference, they will have to start stringing together more wins against quality opponents. Columbus is an rising team that isn’t quite there yet and Washington did grab a nice shootout victory over the Minnesota Wild Thursday, but to be the best, sometimes you have to beat the best on a more regular basis.
