[Bob 0119]

Today’s Storyline

With or without you – Tomorrow’s game will mark just the fifth time in five years that the Washington Capitals will take the ice without Alex Ovechkin, the third time he has missed a game due to injury. The Capitals are 1-3-0 without Ovechkin, but had a strong effort in the third period Sunday evening while he was sidelined. Brooks Laich scored twice in a 2:08 span and Quintin Laing added a third goal as Washington erased a 2-1 deficit and earned a point in overtime. Even without Ovechkin the Capitals have three players averaging a point per game and a fourth who led all NHL defensemen in scoring last year, so the firepower is there to maintain Washington ’s first-place standing even without the two-time reigning MVP.