Opinion
3 min read

Capitals Aim to Dominate Senators in a Frosty Showdown at Capital One Arena

As the Washington Capitals prepare to face off against the Ottawa Senators, fans are eager for a glimpse of what might unfold on the ice. The Capitals, coming off a mixed bag of recent performances, have shown both flashes of brilliance and moments of vulnerability. However, as they gear up for their next challenge at Capital One Arena, there's reason to believe that they could tip the scales in their favor.


Oct 18, 2023; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Washington Capitals goalie Darcy Kuemper (35) skates up the ice to clear the puck away from Ottawa Senators right wing Claude Giroux (28) in the first period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

In their last encounter with the Colorado Avalanche on February 14th, WSH demonstrated an aggressive offensive strategy but ultimately fell short with a 3-6 loss. Despite this setback, there were positive takeaways: The Capitals managed to land 27 shots on goal and capitalized on one out of three powerplay opportunities. Their faceoff win percentage stood at a solid 52 percent—a testament to their ability to control puck possession when it mattered most.


The defensive side showed some cracks though; WSH allowed six goals against them—two during empty net situations—which indicates that tightening up defensively will be crucial in their upcoming game. Goaltending was also less than stellar with only 31 saves from 35 shots faced—an area that will need improvement if they are aiming for victory.


Oct 18, 2023; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub (2) takes a hit to the head stopping a shot by Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) in the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

On February 11th against the Vancouver Canucks, despite an overtime loss (2-3), WSH displayed resilience by pushing the game beyond regulation time. They peppered the opposition's net with 33 shots but struggled in converting those attempts into goals—a shooting percentage of just six percent is something they'll be looking to improve upon.


However, it was Washington’s performance against Boston Bruins on February 10th that truly showcased what this team is capable of when firing on all cylinders. A shutout victory (3-0) away from home saw them dominate through disciplined play and efficient scoring—capitalizing once again on one out of three powerplays while maintaining an impressive save percentage throughout.


Oct 18, 2023; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shoots the puck past Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub (2) in the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

Looking ahead at Ottawa Senators' visit, it's clear that WSH has areas where they can exploit their opponents—particularly if they maintain strong puck possession and capitalize on powerplay chances as seen in past games. With home advantage and lessons learned from recent outings, there’s every chance for Washington Capitals fans to witness a dominant performance come game night.


The clash between these two teams is scheduled for February 27th at Capital One Arena—the fortress where WSH will look to assert dominance over OTT. Fans can catch all the action live nationally via ESPN+ or locally through MNMT channel 642 starting at midnight Eastern Time (ET).

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