Chicago Blackhawks vs. Washington Capitals Preview and Predictions 11-21-2018
NHL Predictions 20th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/20/2018
The Chicago Blackhawks have begun to turn things around with points in four straight contests as they embark on a difficult stretch of six games by visiting the reigning Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals on Wednesday night. Chicago is 2-0-2 in the last four contests and will visit Tampa Bay, Florida, Winnipeg and Nashville along with entertaining Vegas during the next 11 days.
"The schedule is not as (important) as how we're playing," Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton told the Chicago Tribune. "And, OK, we're playing better. It's nice to see us get rewarded with some points. That just helps us keep momentum going, keep the belief going that, hey, we're on the right track." Chicago captain Jonathan Toews said the team is finding its confidence as it prepares to take on the Capitals, who won three of four on a just-completed road trip that saw them lose two of their top five scorers to head injuries for two contests. Center Evgeny Kuznetsov (21 points) and right wing T.J. Oshie (nine goals) are questionable for Wednesday, but goalie Braden Holtby returned after missing three games to stop all 22 shots in relief as Washington rallied from two goals down to beat Montreal 5-4 in overtime Monday. "I think (Montreal) had a pretty lucky start to the second period, you know, three shots on goal and everything goes in," captain Alex Ovechkin told reporters. "We just regrouped, no panic. We knew we had plenty time to bounce back."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), NBCS Washington
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (8-8-5): Left wing Brandon Saad has scored in back-to-back outings and boasts six goals in the past 11 contests after being shut out the first eight games of the season. "When (Saad) goes there and demands the puck, it's fun to watch because it's so hard to take it off him," Toews told the Tribune. "He's powerful, he's protecting it so well, and he just opens up so much space for his linemates." Right wing Patrick Kane leads the team with 25 points and seven of them have come in the last seven games while Toews has five of his 18 in the past four contests, including two goals and three assists.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (10-7-3): Ovechkin has scored three of his team-best 15 goals in the past two games and shares the team lead in points (23) with center Nicklas Backstrom, who scored twice in the last two contests. John Carlson was fourth in scoring among defensemen in the league with 21 points entering Tuesday after recording three of his 16 assists in the past two contests. Brooks Orpik underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday and is expected to miss 4-to-6 more weeks, giving fellow defenseman Madison Bowey (three assists, plus-3 rating, 13 games) more time to win a spot in the lineup.
OVERTIME
1. Washington C Lars Eller scored the winner in overtime Monday, his first goal in nine games.
2. Chicago G Corey Crawford allowed two goals on 100 shots in the last three games, going 2-0-1 in that stretch.
3. Capitals F Tom Wilson has a goal and four assists in four games since returning from a suspension.
PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Blackhawks 2
NHL Predictions 20th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/20/2018
The Chicago Blackhawks have begun to turn things around with points in four straight contests as they embark on a difficult stretch of six games by visiting the reigning Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals on Wednesday night. Chicago is 2-0-2 in the last four contests and will visit Tampa Bay, Florida, Winnipeg and Nashville along with entertaining Vegas during the next 11 days.
"The schedule is not as (important) as how we're playing," Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton told the Chicago Tribune. "And, OK, we're playing better. It's nice to see us get rewarded with some points. That just helps us keep momentum going, keep the belief going that, hey, we're on the right track." Chicago captain Jonathan Toews said the team is finding its confidence as it prepares to take on the Capitals, who won three of four on a just-completed road trip that saw them lose two of their top five scorers to head injuries for two contests. Center Evgeny Kuznetsov (21 points) and right wing T.J. Oshie (nine goals) are questionable for Wednesday, but goalie Braden Holtby returned after missing three games to stop all 22 shots in relief as Washington rallied from two goals down to beat Montreal 5-4 in overtime Monday. "I think (Montreal) had a pretty lucky start to the second period, you know, three shots on goal and everything goes in," captain Alex Ovechkin told reporters. "We just regrouped, no panic. We knew we had plenty time to bounce back."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), NBCS Washington
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (8-8-5): Left wing Brandon Saad has scored in back-to-back outings and boasts six goals in the past 11 contests after being shut out the first eight games of the season. "When (Saad) goes there and demands the puck, it's fun to watch because it's so hard to take it off him," Toews told the Tribune. "He's powerful, he's protecting it so well, and he just opens up so much space for his linemates." Right wing Patrick Kane leads the team with 25 points and seven of them have come in the last seven games while Toews has five of his 18 in the past four contests, including two goals and three assists.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (10-7-3): Ovechkin has scored three of his team-best 15 goals in the past two games and shares the team lead in points (23) with center Nicklas Backstrom, who scored twice in the last two contests. John Carlson was fourth in scoring among defensemen in the league with 21 points entering Tuesday after recording three of his 16 assists in the past two contests. Brooks Orpik underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday and is expected to miss 4-to-6 more weeks, giving fellow defenseman Madison Bowey (three assists, plus-3 rating, 13 games) more time to win a spot in the lineup.
OVERTIME
1. Washington C Lars Eller scored the winner in overtime Monday, his first goal in nine games.
2. Chicago G Corey Crawford allowed two goals on 100 shots in the last three games, going 2-0-1 in that stretch.
3. Capitals F Tom Wilson has a goal and four assists in four games since returning from a suspension.
PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Blackhawks 2