Capitals Extend Their Journey in Tampa

Bassyonni

ago 2 hours

The Washington Capitals are set to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 8 at 7:00 p.m. This matchup takes place at Benchmark International Arena, with broadcast coverage available on MNMT and radio on 106.7 THE FAN and Caps Radio Network.

Capitals’ Recent Performance

Washington heads into this game with a record of 7 wins, 6 losses, and 1 overtime loss. Their recent road trip began with a 5-3 defeat against the Pittsburgh Penguins. This loss highlighted key areas for improvement, particularly special teams play.

Struggles on Special Teams

The Capitals demonstrated solid 5-on-5 performance but struggled during power plays and penalty kills. Against Pittsburgh, Washington allowed three power-play goals. They also failed to capitalize on two power play opportunities in the final period.

Power Play Success Rate: 15.2% (27th in NHL)
Penalty Kill Success Rate: 72.7% (24th in NHL)

Head Coach Spencer Carbery noted the necessity for improvement in special teams. The team currently holds an ‘Special Teams Index’ (STI) of 87.9, ranking among the lowest in the league. For context, the NHL leader, Pittsburgh, boasts an STI of 120.3.

Tampa Bay Lightning’s Resurgence

Conversely, the Tampa Bay Lightning, with a record of 7 wins, 5 losses, and 2 overtime losses, have gained momentum. The Lightning have won six of their last seven games and recently ended a west coast road trip with a 6-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.

Lightning’s Power Play Success Rate: 16.7%
Lightning’s Penalty Kill Success Rate: 89.4% (3rd in NHL)

Tampa Bay’s successful penalty kill contributes to their impressive STI of 106.1. A strong recent performance includes two wins and the team’s only loss in Colorado, which ended a five-game winning streak.

Previous Encounters

This will be the second meeting of the season between these teams. The Capitals emerged victorious in the first matchup, winning 3-2 in overtime with a goal from Jakob Chychrun. They will conclude the season series later this month in Washington.

Looking Ahead

The game on November 8 will be crucial for both teams. The Capitals need to address their special teams’ discrepancies, while the Lightning aim to continue their upward trajectory in the standings. As both teams prepare for this matchup, fans can expect a competitive game at Benchmark International Arena.