Senators at Capitals
THE STORY: Two games into the Dale Hunter era and the Washington Capitals have yet to earn a win. Hunter’s new defensive system has yielded strong results. Now he just needs to figure out a way to get his team to start scoring again. The Capitals managed only two shots in the third period during a 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday and have totaled three goals in their last three games. Overall, Washington has dropped four in a row and eight of 10 and has scored more than one goal in only three of those eight setbacks. Luckily for the Capitals, up next are the Ottawa Senators, who are allowing an NHL-worst 3.4 goals. The Senators visit the Verizon Center on Saturday hoping to close out a three-game road trip with a winning record after dropping a 3-2 decision in Dallas on Thursday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBC (Ottawa), CSW (Washington)
ABOUT THE SENATORS (12-11-2): Ottawa has allowed at least three goals in each of its last four games and has been outshot in six of its last seven contests. The schedule has not helped, with the Senators playing eight of their last nine games on the road. But the holes on the blue line are putting pressure on Craig Anderson, who owns a 3.45 goals-against average. The Senators held a 2-1 lead on the Stars until allowing a pair of tallies in the final 5:34 to suffer the loss.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (12-11-1): Washington let go of coach Bruce Boudreau in part because the team seemed to have tuned him out, especially on the defensive end. Hunter, who is focusing on defense and forechecking, has the blue line playing stronger but has yet to address the offense. Alex Ovechkin recorded 10 hits on Thursday but did not register a point. The superstar left wing has only one goal in the last 10 games and has not had a multi-point game since Nov. 4.
OVERTIME:
1. Washington took the first meeting 2-1 on Oct. 15 behind 33 saves from Tomas Vokoun.
2. Anderson is 4-4-0 with a 2.62 GAA in eight career starts against the Capitals.
3. Ovechkin has 34 points in 24 career games against the Senators.