The San Jose Sharks’ road trip continues today with a stop in our nation’s capital. The Sharks visit the red-hot yet Ovechkin-less Washington Capitals. The Capitals are 17-6-1 and sit in second in the Metropolitan Division. The team has won its last four games and is 7-2-1 in its last ten games. In other words, the Capitals are cooking.
That’s without Alex Ovechkin, who hasn’t played since Nov. 18 when he fractured his fibula. Ovechkin started skating yesterday, though he is still a long way away from playing for the team.
Alex Ovechkin has started skating lightly. Here he is, in a track suit, (way) ahead of this morning’s practice. (h/t @MonSportsNet photog Greg Abernathy) #Caps pic.twitter.com/aSr7brPQxa
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) December 2, 2024
In Ovechkin’s absence, the Capitals have not slowed down. In the six games since the captain went down, the team has outscored opponents 23 to 19.
If there’s one thing that Sharks fans need to watch out for it’s the power play. The Capitals are 13-for-29 on the man advantage over the last three weeks with a 44.8%.
While Ovechkin is still the team’s leading goal scorer — he has 15 while Connor McMichael has 14 — Dylan Strome is the team’s leading scorer with 34 points in 24 games. He’s tied for sixth in the league in scoring.
In net, Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren are splitting duties. Thompson is 10-1-1 with a 2.56 goals against average and .911 save percentage. Lindgren is moving into the 1B option with a 7-5-0 record, 2.95 goals against average and .893 save percentage.
Also, it’s pride night and we’re liking the logo.
Happy #Pride Night in the District!
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 3, 2024
(🎨: @mxgicdave) #ALLCAPS | @GiantFood pic.twitter.com/7VI1iuMjR7
San Jose Sharks lines vs. Washington Capitals tonight
According to San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng, Mackenzie Blackwood will start in net. Peng reports that Ethan Cardwell is out, and Carl Grundstrom is in. Here’s what the lines are expected to
Forwards
William Eklund – Macklin Celebrini – Fabian Zetterlund
Luke Kunin – Alex Wennberg – Tyler Toffoli
Klim Kostin – Mikael Granlund – Will Smith
Carl Grundstrom – Nico Sturm – Ty Dellandrea
Defense
Jake Walman – Cody Ceci
Mario Ferraro – Timothy Liljegren
Henry Thrun – Jan Rutta
Goaltenders
Mackenzie Blackwood
Vitek Vanecek
Washington Capitals lines for Dec. 3, 2024
For the Capitals, it looks like Ovechkin and Sonny Milano are both out. John Carlson, Strome, Nic Dowd and Brandon Duhaime all had “maintenance days” on Monday and did not skate but are expected to play today.
This is what the Daily Faceoff reports the lines will look like tonight with Thompson starting in net.
Forwards
Connor McMichael – Dylan Strome – Tom Wilson
Aliaksei Protas – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Taylor Raddysh
Hendrix Lapierre – Lars Eller – Andrew Mangiapane
Brandon Duhaime – Nic Dowd – Ivan Miroshnichenko
Defense
Martin Fehervary – John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin – Matt Roy
Jakob Chychrun – Trevor Van Riemsdyk
Goaltenders
Logan Thompson
Charlie Lindgren
How to watch San Jose Sharks at Washington Capitals Dec. 3, 2024
Sharks fans can watch the game on NBC Sports California or listen on the Sharks Audio Network.
Capitals fans can see the game MNMT or listen on 106.7 The Fan or on Caps Radio.
The puck drops at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.
You can follow along here with the rest of Sharks fans.
