The Washington Capitals appear to be running out of gas this late in the season. While they have the first place in the entire NHL locked up, the Caps are looking to get back in top form before the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They have a tough assignment against the St. Louis Blues up next.Read on for more about this game. You can also check out our preview of Pens vs. Flyers.
TV Broadcast: CSNB (Local: WAS)/ FSMW (Local: STL)
Betting on the Washington Capitals (55-18-7)
The Caps are assured of home-ice advantage in the postseason but if they need any motivation against St. Louis this Saturday, they can simply recall a 4-0 loss to the Blues on March 26.
Washington’s offense was nowhere to be found in that game despite outshooting the Blues, 32-29. Nevertheless, that setback doesn’t change the fact that Washington is among the most dangerous teams on the attack. The Caps are second in the NHL with 3.0 goals for per game and they should receive a boost from T.J. Oshie, who wasn’t around in the previous meeting with his former team because of an illness.
Oshie’s familiarity of Scottrade Center is a plus for Washington, which is 2-1 in its last three games in that arena. Oshie is second on the team in goals with 26.
Goalie Braden Holtby is also expected to have his first taste of action against the Blues this season on Saturday. Backup Philipp Grubauer dealt with the Blues last March and did poorly, allowing all four goals on 29 shots faced. Holtby has struggled a bit of late, but he’s 2-0 against the Blues in his career, surrendering just two goals out of 76 St. Louis shots.
Betting on the St. Louis Blues (48-23-9)
Like the Caps, St. Louis is guaranteed of a spot in the postseason. The Blues now look to end their season on a positive note, as they welcome Washington at Scottrade Center. The Blues are 7-3 in their last 10 home games.
The Blues had excellent showing on both ends of the ice in the last meeting with Washington as evidenced by the score. Four different players scored for the Blues, while Jake Allen turned away all of Washington’s 32 shots on goal. The Blues also held the usually potent Washington special teams scoreless on two power play opportunities.
The Blues are among the few teams in the league with real capability of slowing down the Caps’ offense. St. Louis is fourth in goals against per game (2.4 goals allowed per game) and fifth in penalty kill with an 84.9 percent success rate.
Jake Allen won’t be around this time against the Caps, though, as a lower body, injury has him sidelined for the rest of the regular season. In lieu of Allen, the Blues will have eight-year veteran Brian Elliott between the pipes. Elliott enters Saturday’s game carrying a 6-2 record, 3.17 GAA, and .886 SV% in 10 career appearances opposite Washington.
St. Louis is 5-0 in Elliott’s last five home starts.
