Capitals at Sharks
The Washington Capitals will try to avoid a winless jaunt through the state of California when they conclude a three-game road trip with a visit to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday afternoon. The Capitals managed just one goal in losses to Anaheim and Los Angeles to fall one point behind Pittsburgh for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
Washington also was swept in the same three-game trek a year ago and has dropped its last seven games (0-6-1) in California. "We're just in a rut," Capitals forward Brett Connolly said. "It's not coming easy for us right now and we all know that. We just have to find a way to push through and get our mojo back." San Jose blanked St. Louis 2-0 on Thursday to improve to 3-1-0 on the six-game homestand as it continues to jockey with Anaheim for second place in the Pacific Divison. "I think our motivation was the standings," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said after his team surrendered a season-low 16 shots on goal. "Everyone's fighting for a playoff spot. We know how important points are, and the guys were ready to play."
TV: 4 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, NBCS California (San Jose)
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (37-23-7): With Braden Holtby struggling badly, backup Philipp Grubauer started against Los Angeles and could get the nod versus the Sharks after earning the victory in a 4-1 win over San Jose on Dec. 4. T.J. Oshie, mired in a 17-game goal drought, suffered a concussion in that matchup. He told the Washington Post that it was hard "to really catch up and feel comfortable on the ice. I’m not saying that was the only reason, but that has a good amount to do with it."
ABOUT THE SHARKS (36-22-9): San Jose finally ended an ugly dry spell on the power play when Mikkel Boedker converted in the third period Thursday to end an 0-for-29 slump with the man advantage dating to Feb. 8. "We don’t seem to focus on it,” Boedker said of the drought. "We know what’s going on. It’s just a matter of sticking with it. We have All-Star players in this group that’s going to take us out of the hole.” Tomas Hertl scored into an empty net, marking just his first goal and his third point over the last nine games.
OVERTIME
1. Washington has lost 22 of its last 26 against San Jose, although three of the wins have come in the past eight meetings.
2. Although the power play has struggled, the Sharks have killed off all 11 penalties in the past six games.
3. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, who is two goals shy of 600 for his career, has scored eight times in 17 games versus San Jose.