The Edmonton Oilers and Washington Capitals will be looking to return to their winning ways when they meet on Monday night in Washington, D.C.
The Capitals have lost their past four games and surrendered a lead in each contest. Washington gave up three goals in the third period to the visiting Arizona Coyotes on Saturday night and lost 3-2.
Washington hasn’t scored more than three goals in a game in its last six.
“It has kind of been the same story for the last four games,” Washington coach Peter Laviolette said. “We have not been scoring a lot of goals, so if you are not scoring a lot of goals, you have got to pay attention to defense.”
The Oilers will be trying to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season following five straight wins.
Edmonton is coming off a 6-2 loss to the visiting Dallas Stars on Saturday night to cap a three-game homestand.
“We laid an egg,” Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft said after the game. “That was the first time I’ve seen this year where we didn’t have it in all facets of the game, and to a man we weren’t good enough.”
Jack Campbell hasn’t been the elite goalie the Oilers expected when they lured him from the Toronto Maple Leafs in July with a five-year, $25 million contract.
Campbell has allowed 15 goals on 95 shots (.842) in his past three games to lower his season save percentage to .874.
“I just haven’t brought my best. Frankly it’s just been pathetic the way I’ve been playing,” Campbell said after giving up six goals on 36 shots in the loss to the Stars. “I owe it to this team to bring my A game, and they haven’t seen it yet. So, I’m going to just keep working hard, I’m going to get through this, and be there for the guys.”
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue to perform at an elite level for Edmonton.
McDavid entered Sunday leading the NHL in goals (12) and points (25). He has 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in a six-game point streak.
Draisaitl is second in the league in points (23) and tied for first in assists (16).
Injuries continue to be a major issue for Washington.
Dmitry Orlov, a defenseman, sustained a lower-body injury in the second period against the Coyotes and did not return or attend practice on Sunday.
Orlov has five assists in 13 games and averages 21:17 of ice time, second on the team to fellow defenseman John Carlson, who’s also sidelined with a lower-body injury and not expected to play against the Oilers.
The Capitals were already without forwards Nicklas Backstrom (hip surgery), Tom Wilson (knee surgery), T.J. Oshie (lower body), Connor Brown (knee surgery), Carl Hagelin (hip surgery) and Beck Malenstyn (broken finger).
“We miss those guys, but right now, the situation is we have to pull on the rope with all our hands and don’t panic and don’t think it’s over,” Washington winger Alex Ovechkin said. “We just have to bounce back and play together as a team and as a group.”
–Field Level Media