Game Preview: Capitals vs. Flames
The Washington Capitals are set to take on the Calgary Flames in Calgary on Friday night at 9 p.m. EST. The Capitals, sporting a record of 24 wins, 21 losses, and 6 overtime losses, are fresh off a tight contest against the Vancouver Canucks, where Dylan Strome shone with two goals, although the Capitals ultimately fell 4-3.
Team Records and Performance
In this matchup, the Flames, currently holding a 21-24-5 overall record, have fared better on their home ice with 13 wins, 8 losses, and 3 overtime losses. While they rank third in the league with an average of 12.4 penalty minutes per game, the Capitals will look to capitalize on their opponent’s discipline during the game.
Washington’s road performance has seen them struggle a bit, acquiring a 10-11-3 record away from Capital One Arena. They have found it particularly challenging to secure victories against teams that have fewer penalty minutes than they do, ending up with an adverse record of 10-13-6 in those matchups.
Key Players
Star players will likely play a vital role in deciding the outcome of this game. For Calgary, Nazem Kadri leads the way with 9 goals and 25 assists, while Yegor Sharangovich has been contributing with 3 goals and 4 assists in his last 10 games. On the other side, the Capitals’ Alexander Ovechkin has recorded 20 goals and 23 assists, alongside Justin Sourdif, who has notched 5 goals and 5 assists in a similar stretch.
Recent Performance
Both teams enter Friday’s game with similar records over their past ten shows, as they are each 3-6-1. Calgary has seen an average of 2 goals per game, alongside 3.4 assists, while allowing three goals per game in that span. Meanwhile, Washington has managed to average 2.9 goals and 5.4 assists, with a slight uptick in penalty averages as well.
Fortunately for both teams, they report no injuries ahead of this contest. This game will mark the first meeting of the season between these two franchises, adding to the anticipation.
