The Washington Capitals season is approaching and that's why you can feel that crisp autumn in the air wherever you are.
Before we get to the fourth line predictions some news came out on social media as the highly anticipated 50th anniversary display on Palmer Alley makes it's debut this Friday September 6 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. featuring speical guests such as defenseman Martin Fehervary, alumnis Mike Green and Karl Alzner, plus team owner Ted Leonsis.
Predicting the fourth line we're going to keep things pretty straight forward.
Brandon Duhaime - Nic Dowd - Aliaksei Protas
Brandon Duhaime comes from the Colorado Avalanche and the Caps acuqired him over the summer. Per Natural Stat Trick his corsi for percentage came out to 53.62 percent, his expected goals for percentage was at 47.26 percent and his high danger chances for percentage clocked out to 51.85 percent in the regular season.
Duhaime's playoffs advanced stats dipped though to a corsi for percentage of 44.10 percent, but had a 51.01 percent expected goals for percentage and a 51.85 percent high danger chances for percentage. Combined with the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche last season, Duhaime recorded five goals and eight assists for 13 points.
Dowd and Protas together had a combined corsi for percentage of 43.72 percent, a 49.84 percent expected goals for percentage and a 51.16 high danger chances for percentage. When Dowd was missing Protas had a corsi for percentage of 49.35 percent, a 51.06 expected goals for percentage and a 5o.65 high danger chances for.
Dowd without Protas has a corsi for percentage of 40.72 percent, a 40.43 expected goals for percentage and a 41.86 high danger chances for percentage.
In other news T.J. Oshie's future stil remains unclear and per Sammi Silber of The Hockey News, the team is still waiting on word upon whether or not Oshie will be ready.
Chris Patrick noted to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti:
""It's still kind of up in the air. I think training camp is kind of our timeline to see where he's at.""
- Chris Patrick
The key date for Oshie will be September 18 when the veterans do physicals and off ice testing prior to on ice sessions. It is also possible that he could join the team for informal skates to feel things out but he has not been skating at MCI quite yet although more players trickle into town each day as the season draws near.
