The Washington Capitals should be thankful January is over. The team went 4-6-2 in the month which was good for 26th in the NHL in point percentage (.417), one spot below the Buffalo Sabres. It was a stretch to be forgotten and February is welcomed with anticipation of turning things around. Their first test will be tonight against one of the hottest teams in the league: the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The concern remains in the crease. Laviolette and the front office have not just one decision to make moving forward but two. One will lead to the other, however. The coach can see if Samsonov is going to be a viable backup in the postseason. If not, they will certainly be in the market for a veteran netminder to support their playoff run – if there even is one. Samsonov could be a pieced move or they could let him test the market this summer.
Washington currently has the first wild card spot, and after the Bruins, there’s a nice cushion. That doesn’t mean the Capitals should sit on it. They need to find their flow and subsequent surge, and that can start tonight, and who better against than their rivals.
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