Capitals at Canucks
The Washington Capitals have been keeping the scoreboard operator busy at both ends of the ice, as they are averaging an NHL-best 4.14 goals per game and allowing a league third-worst 3.86 to boot. The numbers, however, haven't added up in the Capitals' favor of late as they have dropped three of their last four (1-2-1) heading into the opener of a four-game road trip versus the Vancouver Canucks on Monday.
"There have been some signs of some good things and some signs of some things that definitely need some work," Washington coach Todd Reirden told reporters. "And that's where we need to continue to develop our identity that we had at the end of last year. To expect that it starts at that same spot is not really all that achievable." Nicklas Backstrom scored with the man advantage in Friday's 6-5 shootout loss to Florida, as the Capitals carry a league-best power play into Vancouver. The Canucks posted their fourth win in five outings following Saturday's 2-1 overtime victory over Boston. Bo Horvat, who scored his team co-leading fifth goal at 3:12 of overtime, had a goal and an assist in Vancouver's 6-2 romp over visiting Washington on Oct. 26, 2017.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington Plus, Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (3-2-2): One of Washington's calling cards has been its potent power play, as the club leads the NHL in man-advantage goals (10) and percentage (38.5) heading into Sunday's action. Evgeny Kuznetsov is tied atop the league with four power-play goals while Backstrom's seven points with the man advantage are tops in that category through Saturday. Captain Alex Ovechkin, who has three power-play goals this season, has six points (four goals, two assists) with the man advantage in 16 career encounters versus Vancouver.
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (5-3-0): Brandon Sutter scored his second goal in three outings on Saturday to boost his point total to four, a promising sign considering he mustered just 26 (11 goals, 15 assists) in 61 games last season. "The puck came in off Jake (Virtanen) and I tipped it off my pad and it was just sitting there and I just tried to whack it and get it toward the net. I'll take it," the 29-year-old Sutter told the Vancouver Province of his less-than-aesthetically-pleasing tally versus the Bruins. Jacob Markstrom turned aside 30 shots in his first action since surrendering five goals in each of his previous two contests, although he sports an 0-6-0 mark with a 3.44 goals-against average and .895 save percentage in six career encounters versus the Capitals.
OVERTIME
1. Horvat has three of Vancouver's seven goals since promising rookie C Elias Pettersson (concussion) was injured.
2. Capitals G Braden Holtby owns a 3-2-0 mark with one shutout in five career meetings with the Canucks.
3. Vancouver has won both of its home contests this season.