Capitals Beat Bruins, Extend Season Opener Streak to 3

In what exactly everyone was expecting, the Capitals beat the Bruins on opening night at TD Garden and sent home the local fans with a bit of a surprising loss. A surprise to only everyone but those around the Capitals. Veteran Oliver Ekman-Larsson had this to say: "You know sometimes you come in after the season we had, and you look to get off on the right foot." And that they have, records show that the CAPS have a bit of recent success on opening nights dating back to 2020-21 season, with a win over the Blues (7-1)  and in 2021-22 with a win over the Senators (2-1). So going on the road to play a Bruins team that doubled the points the CAPS had last year, 100 to the Capitals 50, many from the Bruins local media had this penciled down as easy 2 points for the home team, who ultimately dropped opening night 3-2, with Nikita Zadorov playing hero with a powerplay goal at the closing seconds of the 3rd to silence the crowd.

The Capitals roster certainly has had a shakeup over the last season and off-season. Darling prospect Trevor Zegras was dealt and in return the same players (PLD and Necas) were dealt for a top 10 draft selection and an additional 1st round pick in the most recent entry draft. So out with Zegras, in with the trio of Logan Cooley, David Jiricek, and Ivan Miroschnichenko as the dust settles a bit more. And while none of those 3 will help in the immediate future, CAPS GM Karp has a good feeling that in the long run of the franchise these 3 will be critical to the success. 

New Players to keep an eye on this season:

Brady Skeji - A trade acquisition in the offseason from the Predators prior to the expansion draft. Skeji pencils in as the new #1D and partner to last offseason’s acquisition OEL. Putting up 18 points whilst averaging 17 minutes a night, Skeji will certainly have opportunities this season if opening night was any indication (appx 22min 5v5, 5min on the PP, and 1min PK). 

Sean Monahan - Another acquisition this offseason, Monahan was acquired during the  expansion draft from Vancouver and slotted in alongside youngsters Ruldolf Balcers and Parker Kelly. He likely will be another beneficiary of more ice time, given his upside and may push fellow expansion draftee Ryan Donato for the 1C this season.

Anton Khudobin - The newest face to the CAPS, is the recently claimed off waivers Anton Khudobin. A near 60 game starter for the Senators last season, Khudobin likely splits the crease with returning starter Alex Lyon this season, and gives former backup Adam Scheel consistent starts in Hersey. And while Khudobin’s numbers last season in all major goalie stats were better than Lyon’s, GM Karp has affirmed Lyon as the the 1A for the CAPS this season, reminding everyone that the CAPS were 7-2 under Lyon in the first stretch of last season, quoted saying “Alex has a dog in him, and you don't mess with those kinda dudes”