Washington 2, Tampa Bay 1

December 12, 2015 * Amalie Arena * Tampa, Fla.

Washington Goals: Jay Beagle, Evgeny Kuznetsov
Shots: WSH: 20, TB: 36
Power Plays: WSH: 0-2, TB: 1-4
Three Stars: 1. Holtby (WSH), 2. Kucherov (TB), 3. Hedman (TB)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Dec. 6: Recalled Aaron Ness from Hershey (AHL)
CAPITALS MILESTONES WITHIN REACH
Jason Chimera Three games shy of 900 NHL games played
Nicklas Backstrom Four points shy of 600 NHL/Capitals points
Nicklas Backstrom Four points shy of passing Michal Pivonka (599) for fourth place on the Capitals franchise points
list
CAPITALS MILESTONES RECENTLY ACHIEVED
Matt Niskanen Played in his 600th NHL game, Dec. 10 at FLA
Karl Alzner Passed Larry Murphy (453) for 11th place on the Capitals franchise games played by a defenseman list,
Dec. 10 at FLA
Justin Williams Earned his 600th NHL point, Dec. 8 vs. DET
Marcus Johansson Earned his 200th NHL/Capitals point, Dec. 8 vs. DET
Barry Trotz Passed Bryan Murray (620) for 10th place on the NHL all-time coaching wins list, Dec. 8 vs. DET
Nicklas Backstrom Played in his 600th NHL/Capitals game, Dec. 8 vs. DET
Braden Holtby Played in his 200th NHL/Capitals game, Dec. 8 vs. DET
INJURIES/ILLNESSES
Brooks Orpik, missed 14 games (11/12-12/12)
Nicklas Backstrom, missed three games (10/10-10/15)
Marcus Johansson, missed one game (12/5)
Total Man-Games Lost: 18
TONIGHTS GAME
The Capitals complete their three-game road trip on Monday against the Pittsburgh Penguins at CONSOL Energy Center.
Washington is 10-4-1 in its last 15 games at Pittsburgh, outscoring the Penguins 50-38. The Capitals and Penguins will
square off five times in 2015-16.
UPCOMING GAMES
DATE
OPPONENT
Dec. 14
at Pittsburgh
Dec. 16
Ottawa
Dec. 18
Tampa Bay
Dec. 20
at New York
Dec. 21
at Carolina
* All times are Eastern

TIME
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
7 p.m.

TV
CSN, NHLN
CSN+, TVAS, SN
CSN
CSN, NHLN, TVAS
CSN+

RADIO
WJFK 106.7
WJFK 106.7
WJFK 106.7
WJFK 106.7
WJFK 106.7

NOTE OF THE NIGHT

Winning Ways The Capitals have posted a 20-6-2 (42 points) record this season, marking the teams best start (in
terms of points) in franchise history. In addition, Washington has earned a point in nine out of its last 10 games (11/2112/12: 8-1-1), outscoring opponents 31-21. The Capitals rank second in wins during the 2015 calendar year (47), trailing
the NY Rangers (51).
TOP FIVE CAPS FACTS
Holt-beast Braden Holtby made a season-high 35 saves on Saturday at Tampa Bay to earn his 18th win of the season.
Holtby extended his personal point streak to a career-high 11 games (10-0-1), marking the longest points streak by a
Capitals goaltender since Jose Theodore during the 2009-10 season (1/13/10-3/24/10: 17-0-2). The Lloydminster,
Saskatchewan, native has posted a 10-0-1 record in his last 11 starts with one shutout, 1.79 goals-against average and a
.939 save percentage. Holtby leads the NHL in wins (18) and goals-against average (1.90) and is tied for fifth in save
percentage (.930). Since the start of the 2012-13 season, Holtby ranks tied for second in the NHL in shutouts (18) and
fourth in wins (105). In addition, Holtby ranks first among active goaltenders in wins through their first 200 NHL games
(118).

Evgeny Means Necessary Evgeny Kuznetsov scored a goal on Saturday against Tampa Bay, marking his 10th point in
his last 10 games (11/21-12/12: 3g, 7a). Kuznetsov leads the Capitals in points (28), assists (19) and plus/minus (+15)
and ranks tied for second in goals (9). In addition, he ranks tied for second in the NHL in plus/minus (+15), tied for third in
primary assists (14), fifth in assists per 60 minutes (2.29) and seventh in points per 60 minutes (3.37).
Red, White and Blueliner Capitals defenseman John Carlson recorded an assist on Saturday against Tampa Bay,
marking his eighth assist in his last eight games (11/25-12/12: 8a). Carlson ranks tied for fourth among NHL defensemen
in assists (17), sixth in points per 60 minutes (1.83), and tied for seventh in points (21) and power-play points (10). In
addition, the 63, 215-pound defenseman has played in 406 consecutive games, marking the second-longest consecutive
games played streak in Capitals franchise history, trailing Bob Carpenter (422). Carlson and teammate Karl Alzner, who
has played in 404 consecutive games, are two of only three defensemen (Keith Yandle) that have not missed a regularseason game in each of the last six seasons (2010-15).
Penguin Punishers The Capitals are 10-4-1 in their last 15 games at Pittsburgh, outscoring the Penguins 50-38. Alex
Ovechkin has registered 46 points (27g, 19a) in 40 career games against the Penguins and Nicklas Backstrom has
earned 29 points (2g, 27a) in 30 career games.
Road Scholars The Capitals are 9-3-1 on the road this season and rank tied for fourth in the NHL in road wins. Evgeny
Kuznetsov has tallied 14 points (6g, 8a) in 13 games on the road this season, including his first career hat trick at
Edmonton on Oct. 23. Braden Holtby ranks in the NHL in second in wins (7) and goals-against average (1.99) and sixth in
save percentage (.929) on the road this season. The Capitals rank third in the NHL in shots against per game (27.4) and
goals against per game (2.23) and fifth in goals per game (2.92).
ADDITIONAL CAPITALS NOTES
All-time Gr8 Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored a goal on Thursday at Florida and has earned nine points in his last
11 games (11/19-12/10: 6g, 3a). Ovechkin ranks tied for seventh in goals (14) and leads the Capitals in goals, ranks
second in plus/minus (+12) and points (25) and tied for fourth in assists (11). Since entering the NHL in 2005-06, Alex
Ovechkin has posted 142 more goals and 48 more points than any other player. In addition, Ovechkin leads the NHL in
goals since 2001-02 despite beginning his NHL career in 2005. The 63, 239-pound left wing ranks first in franchise
history in goals (489), points (920), power-play goals (180), game-winning goals (81), overtime goals (15), shots (3,968)
and multi-goal games (100).
Saint Nick Nicklas Backstrom earned an assist on Thursday against Florida and has tallied 12 points in his last 12
games (11/18-12/12: 3g, 9a). The Gavle, Sweden native played in his 600th NHL/Capitals game on Tuesday against
Detroit and his career total of 441 assists through his first 600 games is the fourth-highest in a player's first 600 games by
anyone who has debuted in the NHL over the last 25 seasons. The only players to enter the NHL since 1990 and earn
more assists in their first 600 games are Peter Forsberg (555), Sidney Crosby (534) and Jaromir Jagr (457).
Capital D Capitals defensemen have earned a point in 24 of Washingtons 28 games this season and have combined to
record 60 points (13g, 47a). The Capitals rank tied for seventh in the NHL in points by defensemen this season.
Road Trippin The Capitals complete a three-game road trip on Monday against the Pittsburgh Penguins at CONSOL
Energy Center. Washington is 6-1-1 this season in games on road trips of three games or longer and posted a 17-6-2
record in 2014-15 in games on road trips of three games or longer. The Capitals have eight road trips of three games or
longer this season.
Leave It To Beagle Jay Beagle scored a goal on Saturday against the Lightning, his fourth of the season. The Capitals
are 20-0-5 all-time when Beagle scores a goal and are 6-0-1 this season when he earns a point. Beagle also won 12 of 18
faceoffs (66.7%) against Tampa Bay and has won 222 of 377 faceoffs (58.9%) this season, ranking third in the NHL in
faceoff win percentage (min. 200 faceoffs).
Getting Defensive The Capitals rank second in the NHL in total goals against (62), third in goals against per game
(2.21) and shots against per game (27.5) and eighth in penalty kill percentage (83.5%).
Caps Connections Brooks Orpik played in 703 games with the Penguins from 2002-14. Orpik registered 132 points
(13g, 119a) and 734 penalty minutes with Pittsburgh and ranks fifth in Penguins franchise history in games played and
ninth in penalty minutes. Matt Niskanen played in 214 games with Pittsburgh from 2010-14, registering 85 points (19g,
66a) and 130 penalty minutes. Taylor Chorney appeared in seven regular-season games with the Penguins in 2014-15
and made his NHL playoff debut in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the NY Rangers. Capitals assistant
coach Todd Reirden served as assistant coach with the Penguins from 2010-14.

Familiar Foes - Tonights game marks the 210th regular-season meeting between the Washington Capitals and
Pittsburgh Penguins. Washington has faced Pittsburgh in more regular-season games than any other franchise in the
NHL.
Mastering Monday The Capitals are 4-0-1 under head coach Barry Trotz when playing on Monday. Washington
defeated the Edmonton Oilers 1-0 in its only Monday game this season. Braden Holtby stopped 33 shots to record his
18th career shutout. In his career, Holtby is 7-2-2 on Monday with one shutout, a 2.29 goals-against average and a .928
save percentage. The Capitals will play a game on Monday for the next three weeks (12/14 at PIT, 12/21 at CAR, 12/28 at
BUF).
Mastering The Metro Washington is 23-11-4 against Metropolitan Division foes dating back to last season. The
Capitals are 4-2-0 against the Metropolitan Division this season and 13-4-0 against the Eastern Conference.
This Date In Caps History On December 14, 1991, the Capitals defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-2 at Civic Arena in
Pittsburgh. John Druce led Washington with three points (1g, 2a) and Kevin Hatcher, Kelly Miller and Mike Ridley each
added two points. Fourteen different Capitals players earned a point in the game and Don Beaupre stopped 31 of 33
shots to secure the victory for Washington.
MEDIA RESOURCES
The 2015-16 Washington Capitals media guide is available for download here.