NHL Grind Down: Saturday, March 11th - Page Three
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Washington Capitals at Los Angeles Kings
| Washington Capitals | Los Angeles Kings | ||||||||
 |  | ||||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 44-15-7 | 32-28-6 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 3.23 | 2.09 | 21.10% | 84.40% | Team Stats | 2.46 | 2.48 | 19.00% | 85.20% |
Even though Washington has dropped their last two games they still remain the best team in the league with their 44-15-7 record as we head down the home stretch towards the end of the season tournament. The only discerning number here is the seven goals they have scored in the last four games. Hopefully this is just a bump in the road, as we have been used to seeing the Capitals score over three points per game throughout this season’s campaign. Alex Ovechkin, T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom will have to kick it in gear, as they have combined for seven goals and eight assists over the last 10 games. This is probably the primary reason that Washington has now inserted Marcus Johansson on the top line and have moved Ovechkin down to play with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Justin Williams on the ‘second’ line. Backstrom is the catalyst here, as he patrols the center of the ice while leading the team with 67 points so far this season. Ovechkin leads the team with 27 goals while Oshie has a respectable 44 points in the 53 games he has been healthy enough to play in. Kuznetsov’s 51 points is a decent number while Williams’s 36 points is on the low end of the scoring chart where the second line is concerned. If you are a believer of the Kings being able to shut down the top line then that should point you in the direction of using them here tonight. The thought process is that the Kings will indeed try to shut down the top line which, in theory, should create more scoring opportunities for the second line here tonight. Kevin Shattenkirk has taken over the main duties from the back line when it comes to the Capitals having the extra attacker. His three assists in the first five games as a Capital seems a bit low here, as I am sure a lot of people expected him to come in here and totally dominate but sometimes that’s not how these things work. Three points in five games isn’t bad by anyone’s standards so using him here tonight looks to be one of the better options.
The Kings will need a surge here to catch the St Louis Blues for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Their 32-28-6v record equals out to 70 points which is three points shy of the aforementioned Blues. The acquisition of Jarome Iginla should provide an extra shot of team leadership, as he draws in on the top line with Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik. Meanwhile Jeff Carter centers Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli in hopes of bringing some of ‘That 70’s Line’ magic back into the Los Angeles lineup. Carter leads the team with 30 goals and 57 points while Pearson’s 11 points over the last 11 games is tops on the team. Defenseman Alec Martinez has captured some lightning in a bottle over the last five games, as his goal and three assists is reminiscent of how he started the season which now has him credited with eight goals and 25 assists so far this season. Drew Doughty leads the Kings blue liners with 37 points which isn’t too far ahead from Martinez but like I said, Martinez scored a ton of points early in the season. Jake Muzzin is another option from the back line, as he and Doughty get the extra ice time with Carter, Kopitar and Pearson when the Kings have the extra attacker. This is truly a test for the Kings as to whether they will be able to hang in the playoff race or not as Washington has been the best team for most of the season.
Elite Plays
WSH: Nicklas Backstrom
LAK: Jeff Carter
Secondary Plays
WSH: Alexander Ovechkin, T.J. Oshie. Evgeny Kuznetsov, Kevin Shattenkirk
LAK: Tanner Pearson, Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, Jake Muzzin, Tyler Toffoli