The Washington Capitals are the only NHL team without a player in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, giving them a unique two-week break while other contenders prepare for the international competition. Coach Spencer Carbery sees this as a valuable opportunity for his team to rest and recover, potentially giving them an edge in the latter stages of the season.
ARLINGTON, Va. — Cruising to the top of the NHL standings by winning 36 of their first 54 games and losing just 11 in regulation, the Washington Capitals solidified themselves as a team to watch this spring.The Capitals are the only team in the league not to have a player chosen for the 4 Nations Face-Off international tournament between the U.S., Canada, Sweden and Finland, and one of just two without representation after San Jose traded Mikael Granlund to Dallas last week.
“It comes at a good time with where we are in the schedule,” Carbery said. “And I think it just sets us up to give our entire group a good mental and physical reset. ... We’re going to need every ounce of energy mentally and physically that we can find.” “We're focused on what we can control and get us best prepared, whether it’s rest or some work or whatever over the break and everybody’s going to be different in terms of that and get ready for the rest of the year,” Carlson said. “We’re going pretty good right now, and the last thing we want to do is take our foot off the gas.”
"Our depth really plays a role in it,” Mangiapane said. “It’s not just one guy kind of doing it every game. I feel like it’s coming from all four lines, all D pairings and the goalies have been playing great. That’s what winning teams have.” The Capitals don't have a player in the top 30 in scoring, and a couple of their better players are from countries not involved in the tournament: Ovechkin from Russia and 22-goal scorer Aliaksei Protas from Belarus. Defenseman Martin Fehervary, if healthy, will almost certainly play for Slovakia in Milan.
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