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MINNESOTA
WASHINGTON |
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| 3 | MINNESOTA | +120 | Ov 5,-125 | +110 | Ov 5,-120 | | 4 | WASHINGTON | -140 | Un 5,+105 | -130 | Un 5,+100 |
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| All Games | 34-29-0 | -1.4 | 34-29 | -1.4 | 25-30 | 2.8 | 31.5 | 2.6 | 26.9 | | Team Stats (Road Games) | 16-16-0 | +0.5 | 16-16 | +0.5 | 11-16 | 2.5 | 30.7 | 2.6 | 29.2 | | Last 5 Games | 4-1-0 | +1.2 | 4-1 | +1.2 | 2-2 | 3.4 | 33.8 | 1.8 | 27.0 |
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| Team Stats (All Games) | 63 | 179 | 55 | 58 | 60 | 6 | 10 | 1984 | 9.0% | 197 | 30 | 15.2% | 292 | | Team Stats (Road Games) | 32 | 81 | 21 | 26 | 31 | 3 | 5 | 982 | 8.2% | 91 | 10 | 11.0% | 123 | | Team Stats (Last 5 Games) | 5 | 17 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 169 | 10.1% | 13 | 1 | 7.7% | 24 | | Stats Against (All Games) | | 163 | 41 | 58 | 57 | 7 | 8 | 1697 | 9.6% | 184 | 24 | 13.0% | 281 | | Stats Against (Road Games) | | 83 | 12 | 39 | 30 | 2 | 4 | 934 | 8.9% | 92 | 15 | 16.3% | 148 | | Stats Against (Last 5 Games) | | 9 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 135 | 6.7% | 18 | 1 | 5.6% | 17 |
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| NIKLAS BACKSTROM (All Games) | 19 | 14 | 452 | 401 | 88.7% | 1 | 5-9 | -4.5 | 5-9-0 | -4 | 7-5 | | NIKLAS BACKSTROM (Road Games) | 9 | 8 | 243 | 214 | 88.1% | 1 | 3-5 | -1.7 | 3-5-0 | -2 | 4-3 | | NIKLAS BACKSTROM(vs. Non-Conference) | 7 | 6 | 180 | 159 | 88.3% | 1 | 3-3 | -0.2 | 3-3-0 | -1 | 3-2 | | NIKLAS BACKSTROM (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 116 | 100 | 86.2% | 0 | 0-4 | -4 | 0-4-0 | -4 | 2-2 | | JOHN CURRY (All Games) | 2 | 1 | 25 | 20 | 80.0% | 0 | 0-1 | -1.5 | 0-1-0 | -2 | 1-0 | | JOHN CURRY (Road Games) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 50.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | JOHN CURRY(vs. Non-Conference) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 50.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | JOHN CURRY (Last 4 Games) | 2 | 1 | 25 | 20 | 80.0% | 0 | 0-1 | -1.5 | 0-1-0 | -2 | 1-0 | | DEVAN DUBNYK (All Games) | 40 | 38 | 1100 | 1019 | 92.6% | 3 | 25-13 | +12.3 | 25-13-0 | +12 | 17-16 | | DEVAN DUBNYK (Road Games) | 21 | 20 | 596 | 552 | 92.6% | 1 | 13-7 | +8.6 | 13-7-0 | +9 | 11-6 | | DEVAN DUBNYK(vs. Non-Conference) | 10 | 9 | 233 | 208 | 89.3% | 0 | 6-3 | +2.8 | 6-3-0 | +3 | 6-2 | | DEVAN DUBNYK (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 115 | 108 | 93.9% | 0 | 3-1 | +0.2 | 3-1-0 | 0 | 1-2 | | JOSH HARDING (All Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | JOSH HARDING (Road Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | JOSH HARDING(vs. Non-Conference) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | DARCY KUEMPER (All Games) | 29 | 27 | 675 | 610 | 90.4% | 2 | 13-14 | -4 | 13-14-0 | -3 | 10-14 | | DARCY KUEMPER (Road Games) | 14 | 13 | 389 | 357 | 91.8% | 0 | 5-8 | -3.2 | 5-8-0 | -3 | 3-8 | | DARCY KUEMPER(vs. Non-Conference) | 13 | 12 | 304 | 274 | 90.1% | 0 | 5-7 | -3.5 | 5-7-0 | -3 | 4-6 | | DARCY KUEMPER (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 3 | 96 | 87 | 90.6% | 0 | 1-2 | -1.4 | 1-2-0 | -1 | 2-1 |
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| All Games | 35-30-0 | -2.3 | 35-30 | -2.3 | 29-34 | 3.0 | 29.7 | 2.5 | 28.9 | | Team Stats (Home Games) | 17-13-0 | -4.6 | 17-13 | -4.6 | 15-15 | 3.1 | 30.2 | 2.4 | 27.5 | | Last 5 Games | 2-3-0 | -2 | 2-3 | -2 | 2-3 | 2.8 | 28.0 | 2.6 | 30.8 |
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| Team Stats (All Games) | 65 | 193 | 54 | 68 | 64 | 7 | 13 | 1930 | 10.0% | 197 | 47 | 23.9% | 329 | | Team Stats (Home Games) | 30 | 93 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 4 | 7 | 906 | 10.3% | 100 | 26 | 26.0% | 160 | | Team Stats (Last 5 Games) | 5 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 140 | 10.0% | 16 | 3 | 18.7% | 25 | | Stats Against (All Games) | | 162 | 42 | 58 | 52 | 10 | 7 | 1880 | 8.6% | 212 | 40 | 18.9% | 285 | | Stats Against (Home Games) | | 71 | 19 | 20 | 27 | 5 | 4 | 825 | 8.6% | 96 | 16 | 16.7% | 119 | | Stats Against (Last 5 Games) | | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 154 | 8.4% | 18 | 4 | 22.2% | 24 |
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| PHILIPP GRUBAUER (All Games) | 1 | 1 | 25 | 23 | 92.0% | 0 | 1-0 | +1 | 1-0-0 | +1 | 0-1 | | PHILIPP GRUBAUER (Home Games) | 1 | 1 | 25 | 23 | 92.0% | 0 | 1-0 | +1 | 1-0-0 | +1 | 0-1 | | PHILIPP GRUBAUER(vs. Non-Conference) | 1 | 1 | 25 | 23 | 92.0% | 0 | 1-0 | +1 | 1-0-0 | +1 | 0-1 | | PHILIPP GRUBAUER (Last 4 Games) | 1 | 1 | 25 | 23 | 92.0% | 0 | 1-0 | +1 | 1-0-0 | +1 | 0-1 | | BRADEN HOLTBY (All Games) | 56 | 55 | 1581 | 1462 | 92.5% | 6 | 31-24 | -0.1 | 31-24-0 | 0 | 22-32 | | BRADEN HOLTBY (Home Games) | 25 | 25 | 665 | 616 | 92.6% | 4 | 14-11 | -4.7 | 14-11-0 | -5 | 12-13 | | BRADEN HOLTBY(vs. Non-Conference) | 16 | 16 | 431 | 392 | 91.0% | 1 | 9-7 | 0 | 9-7-0 | 0 | 7-9 | | BRADEN HOLTBY (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 125 | 116 | 92.8% | 2 | 2-2 | -0.8 | 2-2-0 | 0 | 2-2 | | JUSTIN PETERS (All Games) | 10 | 9 | 271 | 237 | 87.5% | 0 | 3-6 | -3.3 | 3-6-0 | -3 | 7-1 | | JUSTIN PETERS (Home Games) | 5 | 4 | 134 | 118 | 88.1% | 0 | 2-2 | -0.9 | 2-2-0 | -1 | 3-1 | | JUSTIN PETERS(vs. Non-Conference) | 7 | 6 | 212 | 185 | 87.3% | 0 | 1-5 | -4.2 | 1-5-0 | -4 | 5-0 | | JUSTIN PETERS (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 110 | 95 | 86.4% | 0 | 1-3 | -1.4 | 1-3-0 | -1 | 4-0 |
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| | Average power rating of opponents played: MINNESOTA 2.98, WASHINGTON 3.04 |
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| 2/7/2015 | COLORADO | 1-0 | W | 0, -195 | W | 5 ov | U | | 2/9/2015 | VANCOUVER | 5-3 | W | 0, -150 | W | 5 ev | O | | 2/10/2015 | at WINNIPEG | 1-2 | L | 0, +115 | L | 5 ov | U | | 2/12/2015 | FLORIDA | 2-1 | W | 0, -160 | W | 5 ov | U | | 2/14/2015 | CAROLINA | 6-3 | W | 0, -195 | W | 5 ev | O | | 2/16/2015 | at VANCOUVER | 2-3 | L | 0, -120 | L | 5 ov | P | | 2/18/2015 | at CALGARY | 3-2 | W | 0, -115 | W | 5 ov | P | | 2/20/2015 | at EDMONTON | 4-0 | W | 0, -180 | W | 5.5 un | U | | 2/22/2015 | DALLAS | 6-2 | W | 0, -210 | W | 5.5 un | O | | 2/24/2015 | EDMONTON | 1-2 | L | 0, -315 | L | 5.5 un | U | | 2/26/2015 | at NASHVILLE | 4-2 | W | 0, +140 | W | 5 ov | O | | 2/28/2015 | at COLORADO | 3-1 | W | 0, -150 | W | 5 ov | U | | 3/3/2015 | OTTAWA | 3-2 | W | 0, -190 | W | 5 ov | P | | 3/5/2015 | at WASHINGTON | | | 3/6/2015 | at CAROLINA | | | 3/8/2015 | COLORADO | | | 3/10/2015 | NEW JERSEY | | | 3/13/2015 | ANAHEIM | | | 3/14/2015 | at ST LOUIS | |
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| 2/6/2015 | ANAHEIM | 3-2 | W | 0, -145 | W | 5.5 un | U | | 2/8/2015 | PHILADELPHIA | 1-3 | L | 0, -170 | L | 5.5 un | U | | 2/11/2015 | at SAN JOSE | 5-4 | W | 0, -110 | W | 5.5 un | O | | 2/14/2015 | at LOS ANGELES | 1-3 | L | 0, +110 | L | 5 ov | U | | 2/15/2015 | at ANAHEIM | 5-3 | W | 0, +165 | W | 5.5 un | O | | 2/17/2015 | at PITTSBURGH | 3-1 | W | 0, +145 | W | 5 ov | U | | 2/19/2015 | WINNIPEG | 5-1 | W | 0, -160 | W | 5.5 un | O | | 2/21/2015 | NY ISLANDERS | 3-2 | W | 0, -165 | W | 5.5 ev | U | | 2/22/2015 | at PHILADELPHIA | 2-3 | L | 0, -130 | L | 5.5 un | U | | 2/25/2015 | PITTSBURGH | 3-4 | L | 0, -125 | L | 5 ov | O | | 2/27/2015 | at CAROLINA | 0-3 | L | 0, -150 | L | 5 ov | U | | 3/1/2015 | TORONTO | 4-0 | W | 0, -285 | W | 5.5 un | U | | 3/3/2015 | at COLUMBUS | 5-3 | W | 0, -160 | W | 5 ov | O | | 3/5/2015 | MINNESOTA | | | 3/7/2015 | BUFFALO | | | 3/11/2015 | NY RANGERS | | | 3/13/2015 | DALLAS | | | 3/15/2015 | BOSTON | | | 3/16/2015 | at BUFFALO | |
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| |  | MINNESOTA: LAST SEASON: 43-27-12, 98 points. Lost to Chicago 4-2 in Western Conference semifinals after beating Colorado 4-3 in first round.
COACH: Mike Yeo, fourth season, 104-82-26.
ADDED: LW Thomas Vanek, LW Brett Sutter, D Justin Falk, D Stu Bickel.
LOST: RW Dany Heatley, LW Matt Moulson, D Clayton Stoner, C Cody McCormick, LW Mike Rupp.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Vanek signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract with the Wild after spending his first nine NHL seasons in the Eastern Conference, primarily with Buffalo. Vanek will be counted on for a scoring boost for a team that tied for 24th in the NHL in goals per game, but with Zach Parise and former Sabres teammate Jason Pominville among the top six forwards the onus is not all on him.
OUTLOOK: After advancing past the first round for only the second time in franchise history with a dramatic upset of the Central Division champion Avalanche, the Wild are on track for more with the addition of Vanek and the development of young forwards Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Erik Haula and Nino Niederreiter. The goalie situation is the biggest concern, with Niklas Backstrom and Darcy Kuemper returning as the top two after an injury-laden season at the position that forced the Wild to give four different players 19 starts or more in the net. | | WASHINGTON: LAST SEASON: 38-30-14, 90 points. Missed the playoffs by finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference.
COACH: Barry Trotz, 1st season with Capitals; 16th overall in NHL, 557-479-60-100.
ADDED: Trotz, GM Brian MacLellan, D Brooks Orpik, D Matt Niskanen, G Justin Peters.
LOST: Coach Adam Oates, GM George McPhee, C Mikhail Grabovski, LW Dustin Penner, G Jaroslav Halak.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Alex Ovechkin, as always. The three-time league MVP led the NHL with 51 goals last season, but his plus-minus of minus-35 was third-worst in the league. Trotz plans to move Ovechkin back to left wing and also hopes to cajole more of a team game from the Russian forward.
OUTLOOK: It was deflating enough for the talented Capitals to lose in the early rounds of the playoffs every year, but last season they didn't make the postseason at all, a failure that cost Oates and McPhee their jobs. Orpik and Niskanen should stabilize the blue line, but nothing is more crucial in Washington than the relationship between Ovechkin and the coach du jour. Trotz is Ovechkin's first NHL head coach with prior head coaching experience elsewhere in the league, giving him the cachet to make demands of his players - and to expect them to be met. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER HOCKEY PREVIEW (MINNESOTA-WASHINGTON) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Wild-Capitals Preview* =======================
By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer
Minnesota (34-22-7) at Washington (35-20-10), 7:00 p.m. EDT
While looking to add to his case for another MVP, Alex Ovechkin will try to help the Washington Capitals apply more pressure on the Metropolitan Division leaders.
To get two more points in Thursday night's opener to a lengthy homestand, the Capitals will have to get through a Minnesota Wild team that's proved quite adept at stifling opponents lately.
Ovechkin has scored two goals in each of Washington's back-to-back wins after tallying just one in a four-game stretch that included three consecutive defeats to end February. He scored the winning goal for the second straight contest Tuesday in a 5-3 victory in Columbus.
"The guys did their jobs," Ovechkin said. "They really stepped up. Now, this is a good time for us to stick together."
The three-time MVP leads the league with 10-game winners and 43 goals overall, including 21 in the past 22 games along with nine assists.
He's a major reason the Capitals (35-20-10) have an 11-point lead on a playoff spot and remain well within striking distance of the Metropolitan lead. They'll get a season-high five consecutive home games beginning Thursday but will face one of the NHL's hottest teams in the opener.
Minnesota (34-22-7) has won 14 of 17 and shook off a blown two-goal lead for its third straight victory Tuesday, a 3-2 shootout win over Ottawa. Matt Dumba scored both of the Wild's goals in the first 8:05 of the second period, and Devan Dubnyk improved to 16-3-1 since joining the team in a trade with Arizona on Jan. 14.
"It feels good doing this, so we want to keep this going for sure," Dumba said.
Dubnyk has started all 21 of Minnesota's games since being acquired, posting a 1.65 goals-against average. The Wild have allowed 11 goals in the past seven games.
They head to the nation's capital carrying a four-game road win streak, their longest since March 9-25, 2013. They are 0-3-1 in their last four games in Washington, though, and 1-5-1 all-time there.
Minnesota did win the teams' most recent meeting, 5-3 on Jan. 4, 2014, but coach Mike Yeo knows earning another victory over the Capitals will be challenging.
"It seems like Ovechkin scores every game. Their power play is just on fire and tough to deal with on its own. They're a lot more than that, too. They're playing a team game that they believe in," Yeo said. "They're playing pretty solid defensively, and they're all bought in, so it's going to be a good challenge."
The Capitals have one of the league's best power-play conversion rates at 23.9 percent, and Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading 19th power-play goal Tuesday.
Minnesota, though, has allowed one goal in its last 48 times short-handed. That's helped the Wild keep rolling despite a power play that's 1 for 18 in the last nine games.
Dubnyk has given up a combined nine goals in his two games against Washington, the latest a 6-5 road win for Arizona on Nov. 2.
Ovechkin scored one of those five goals and assisted on three others. He has four goals and two assists in his last five games versus Minnesota.
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| | Last Updated: 4/26/2024 2:59:58 AM EST. |
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