Capitals vs. Lightning: 3 things you need to know
The Tampa Bay Lightning continue their four-game homestand by hosting the Washington Capitals on Saturday in a contest featuring two of the most electrifying goal-scorers in the league: Steven Stamkos and Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals have lost two straight but hold the upper hand on their former division foes, having won five of their last six meetings with Tampa Bay.
Here are three things you need to know:
Lightning offense striking frequently
The Lightning finished third in the Eastern Conference with 240 goals last season, and 2014-15 could be an even more productive season for them.
Tampa Bay was second in the league in goals per game in October, averaging 3.46. Stamkos is leading the way with eight, but 21-year-old Nikita Kucherov has four and five other Lightning players have three, including Vladislav Namestnikov.
The Lightning have been very effective with the man-advantage at home, converting on nine of 27 opportunities. The Capitals are struggling to kill penalties on the road, allowing four goals on 14 opportunities, so they'll need to stay out of the penalty box.
Ice-cold Ovi isn't concerned
Ovechkin is in uncharted territory having gone five games without recording a point for the first time in his career, but he's not letting it faze him.
"I’m still getting chances but I didn’t score," he told Chuck Gormley from CSNWashington after Wednesday's loss to the Detroit Red Wings, adding: "I feel normal. Right now everybody is a little bit squeezing the sticks too hard. It just don’t go in."
Perhaps Saturday will be the day when pucks start going in again for Ovechkin, who seems to enjoy playing Tampa Bay. The Capitals captain has 35 goals and 71 points in 54 career contests against the Lightning.
Callahan's return
Ryan Callahan declared himself ready to go for Saturday after missing five games with a lower-body injury, which should bolster Tampa Bay's already strong group of forwards.
"It sucks anytime you're out, you want to be in there, want to help the team win, you want to contribute so it's hard to sit out and watch," Callahan told Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. "It's going to be good to come back."
Callahan had five points in six games before suffering the injury on the Lightning's five-game road trip. He is one of the team leaders in power-play ice time and provides veteran leadership on Tampa Bay's youthful roster.
Cedric Paquette was sent to the AHL to make room for Callahan.