Yahoo Sports Capitals vs. Blackhawks Preview: Line Combinations, Stats, Storylines To Watch
After a tough loss to the Dallas Stars where, for the most part, they played the right way, the Washington Capitals will try to have a short memory and get back to their winning way son the road as they take on the Chicago Blackhawks.
Here's everything to know before puck drop at 8:30 p.m. at United Center.
Washington Capitals Line Combinations
The lines will tweak slightly with Andrew Mangiapane returning from illness. Logan Thompson will start after Charlie Lindgren played 24 hours ago in Dallas.
Here are the projected combinations:
Connor McMichael-Dylan Strome-Taylor Raddysh
Aliaksei Protas-Pierre-Luc Dubois-Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana-Lars Eller-Andrew Mangiapane
Brandon Duhaime-Nic Dowd-Ivan Miroshnichenko
Martin Fehervary-John Carlson
Jakob Chychrun-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Rasmus Sandin-Matt Roy
Logan Thompson
Charlie Lindgren
Injured: Alex Ovechkin (broken left fibula), Sonny Milano (upper-body), Nicklas Backstrom (hip), T.J. Oshie (back)
Washington Capitals Stats
- Dylan Strome, who was a healthy scratch for Chicago just a couple of years ago, is riding a four-game point streak, with goals in three of his last four games to boot. He's on pace for 104 points.
- Jakob Chychrun also has points in four straight and has 13 points in his last nine outings overall.
Washington Capitals Storylines
- After going 0-for-4 on the power play against the Stars, look for Washington, who went 2-for-3 against the Buffalo Sabres a game before with Tom Wilson supplying both of those PPGs. Look for it to get going against the Blackhawks, but it won't be easy, as Chicago possesses the fourth-best PK in the NHL.
- Speaking of Wilson, he's been on a tear recently with seven goals in his last nine games, so watch for him to be a threat.
- Also keep an eye on Taylor Raddysh, who matched his point total from last year in 43 fewer games. He continues to be a sneaky good pickup for D.C.
