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Snapshots of the Week Ahead: Week 1

Opening Night is almost here, and with it we return to our weekly snapshots of the week ahead. Week 1 is a light week for workload, but the two opponents promise to make it one packed with drama.

The Opponents

New York Rangers (Wednesday/7:30 pm at Capital One Arena)

On paper, the season begins on Wednesday at home against the New York Rangers, but in a sense, it began 7:40 into the second period of a game at Madison Square Garden. That is when all hell broke loose behind the Capitals’ net. In the aftermath, the Rangers decided to toughen up their roster, apparently with Tom Wilson specifically in mind, adding Ryan Reaves, Barclay Goodrow, Patrick Nemeth, Sammy Blais and Jarred Tinordi, all of whom add a physical and/or size dimension the Rangers felt they needed to deal with Wilson.

What it means for the season opener is that the Rangers, who seemed to be employing a strategy of rebuilding their skilled positions, are now trying for what they might consider a balance of talent and toughness. On the skill side, this is a team that finished tenth in scoring offense last season, seven players with double digits in goals and nine with at least 20 points.

As for whether the changes the Rangers have made improve their playoff hopes, one Web site places them right on the edge, a 51 percent probability of reaching the postseason. There are others who are more bullish on the Rangers’ chances and some a bit bearish.

As for this week’s matchup, we get a first glimpse of whether the Rangers are achieving balance or pursuing colliding strategies of talent versus toughness. 

Tampa Bay Lightning (Saturday/7:00pm at Capital One Arena)

The Caps and the Lightning have along history, first as Southeast Division opponents, then as inter-division rivals with a common goal of defeating the other on their way to a long playoff run. These two teams have won three of the last four Stanley Cups, the Caps in 2018 and the Bolts in each of the last two seasons. But whereas the Caps can see their window of competitiveness closing, the Lightning are still squarely in their wide-open window of competitiveness with a decent chance at a three-peat of Cups.

Tampa finished eighth in scoring offense last season and sixth in scoring defense. They were ninth in power play efficiency and fourth in penalty killing. They were tenth in shots on goal per game, ninth in fewest shots allowed per game. They finished ninth in shot attempts-for at 5-on-5. They were ninth in credited hits per 60 minutes. Small wonder a team with this kind of high-ranked, consistent top-ten balance won a Stanley Cup.

On an individual level, their seven players with double digits in goals seem a bit unimpressive, but the Lightning had 11 players with at least 20 points. Not bad for a 56-game season. And, they had 13 players with game-winning goals. It was a team that could beat you from a range of possibilities. 

If anything, this year’s squad that the Caps will face on Opening Weekend, is deeper with the additions of Corey Perry, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Zach Bogosian, and Brian Elliott in goal. This contest will be an early measuring stick for the Capitals.

Hot Caps:

Cold Caps:

Weird Facts:

Potential Milestones to Reach This Week (or soon):

Lars Eller

Carl Hagelin

Anthony Mantha

Alex Ovechkin

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