The Washington Capitals are looking for their first win of the year after a dismal start.
Widely touted as a top contender to win the Southeast division, Adam Oates' team looked lost in its first two division games with Tampa Bay and Winnipeg. The team started off well against Tampa Bay before imploding in the third period for a 6-3 loss. In the most recent battle with Winnipeg, Washington was outworked in a 4-2 loss. Superstar Alex Ovechkin has been ineffective throughout the games despite having played during the lockout in Russia. Summer acquisition Mike Ribiero and playoff hero Joel Ward have gotten off to solid starts, but this team needs more from Ovechkin and star center Nicklas Backstrom. The team is also expecting a lot more from goaltender Braden Holtby. Last year, Holtby helped Washington defeat defending champion Boston in the first round of the playoffs before pushing the top seeded NY Rangers to a game seven in the second round. Thus far Holtby has a 5.04 goals against average and an 86.3 save percentage; both unacceptable for such a highly touted goalie.
The team will need to defeat the Montreal Canadiens who have split their first two games. After enduring a tough 2-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the "Habs" took down the Florida Panthers 4-1 in a game that featured the first career NHL goal from top prospect Alex Galchenyuk. The team is still in the midst of contract negotiations with star defender P.K. Subban, but has looked good without him.
Prediction: Montreal looks solid under Michel Therrien while the Capitals look lost in Oates' system. Look for Montreal to embarrass Washington again; 6-3 Canadiens. Washington did win all four games in the series last year and could pull off a win here as well.
Start Time: 7PM EST
TV Info: RDS, CSN-DC
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