'We laid an egg': Oilers and Capitals aim to end losing streaks Monday
The Edmonton Oilers and Washington Capitals will be looking to return to their winning ways when they meet on Monday night in Washington, D.C.
The Capitals have lost their past four games and surrendered a lead in each contest. Washington gave up three goals in the third period to the visiting Arizona Coyotes on Saturday night and lost 3-2.
Washington hasn't scored more than three goals in a game in its last six.
"It has kind of been the same story for the last four games," Washington coach Peter Laviolette said. "We have not been scoring a lot of goals, so if you are not scoring a lot of goals, you have got to pay attention to defense."
The Oilers will be trying to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season following five straight wins.
Edmonton is coming off a 6-2 loss to the visiting Dallas Stars on Saturday night to cap a three-game homestand.
"We laid an egg," Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft said after the game. "That was the first time I've seen this year where we didn't have it in all facets of the game, and to a man we weren't good enough."
Jack Campbell hasn't been the elite goalie the Oilers expected when they lured him from the Toronto Maple Leafs in July with a five-year, $25 million contract.
Campbell has allowed 15 goals on 95 shots (.842) in his past three games to lower his season save percentage to .874.
"I just haven't brought my best. Frankly it's just been pathetic the way I've been playing," Campbell said after giving up six goals on 36 shots in the loss to the Stars. "I owe it to this team to bring my A game, and they haven't seen it yet. So, I'm going to just keep working hard, I'm going to get through this, and be there for the guys."
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue to perform at an elite level for Edmonton.
McDavid entered Sunday leading the NHL in goals (12) and points (25). He has 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in a six-game point streak.
Draisaitl is second in the league in points (23) and tied for first in assists (16).
Injuries continue to be a major issue for Washington.
Dmitry Orlov, a defenseman, sustained a lower-body injury in the second period against the Coyotes and did not return or attend practice on Sunday.
Orlov has five assists in 13 games and averages 21:17 of ice time, second on the team to fellow defenseman John Carlson, who's also sidelined with a lower-body injury and not expected to play against the Oilers.
The Capitals were already without forwards Nicklas Backstrom (hip surgery), Tom Wilson (knee surgery), T.J. Oshie (lower body), Connor Brown (knee surgery), Carl Hagelin (hip surgery) and Beck Malenstyn (broken finger).
"We miss those guys, but right now, the situation is we have to pull on the rope with all our hands and don't panic and don't think it's over," Washington winger Alex Ovechkin said. "We just have to bounce back and play together as a team and as a group."
--Field Level Media
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
Residents of northern Alberta First Nation told to shelter in place
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Metro Vancouver mayors call for serial killer Robert Pickton to be denied parole
A dozen mayors from around Metro Vancouver say federal Attorney General and Justice Minister Arif Virani should deny parole for notorious B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, and reassess the parole and sentencing system for 'prolific offenders and mass murderers.'