JANUARY 15•JAPERSRINK.COM
Rink Roundtable: Caps at the HalfThe Washington Capitals have now completed 41 games, or exactly one half of the 2023-24 season…boy, time really flies when you're having fun...
Alex Ovechkin's decline, the Jets, and other compelling storylines from the first half of the NHL season - The Boston GlobeAlex Ovechkin began the season with 822 goals, needing 73 to eclipse Wayne Gretzky’s all-time mark. The 38-year-old winger still needs 65.
JANUARY 15•BOSTONGLOBE.COM
Braden Schneider - Gets credit for apple in winSchneider logged an assist in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Rangers.
ImpactSchneider technically gets credit for the assist since the defenseman was the first one to touch the puck on the possession, but this game-winning goal had more to do with Alexis Lafreniere lighting the lamp on his own rebound near the top of the crease. At any rate, Schneider is up to eight helpers among 11 total points to complement solid defensive totals (51 blocked shots and 53 hits) through 42 games. We're seeing steady improvement from the physical blueliner, who the Rangers selected No.19 overall in the 2020 Draft.
JANUARY 15•ROTOWIRE
Max Pacioretty - Lone helper not enoughPacioretty delivered an assist in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Rangers.
ImpactPacioretty has a goal, two assists and a plus-2 rating since his Jan. 3 return from a long-term Achillies injury. Formerly the offensive focal point of the Canadiens, who took him No. 22 overall in the 2007 draft, Pacioretty now finds himself on a Capitals team that is ranked seventh within the fiercely competitive Metropolitan Division. However, Pacioretty's current one-year, $4 million contract serves as a nice proving ground to see how much he has left in the tank before he'd officially become an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
JANUARY 15•ROTOWIRE
Jacob Trouba - Shows grit in narrow winTrouba registered an assist, three hits and six blocked shots in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Capitals.
ImpactThis was a dogged effort from Trouba, who is starting in the offensive zone just 36.7 percent of the time, a career-low mark through his 11 years of service time between the Jets and Rangers. He's added three goals and 14 assists to go along with 101 hits and 132 blocked shots through 42 games, but the Rangers no longer require his services on the power play as yet another downgrade to his fantasy prospects.
JANUARY 15•ROTOWIRE
Rangers end 4-game skid with 2-1 win over CapitalsArtemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere scored first-period goals and Igor Shesterkin made 24 saves and the New York Rangers snapped a four-gam...
JANUARY 15•SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
Alexis Lafreniere - Pots game-winner SundayLafreniere scored the game-winning goal in Sunday's 2-1 victory over the Capitals.
ImpactThe 22-year-old winger was left all alone in the Washington zone on a clearing attempt by the Caps that didn't quite make it, and while Lafreniere's initial shot attempt was denied by Charlie Lindgren, he coolly slotted home his own rebound. Lafreniere has been productive over the last month, collecting three goals and 10 points in the last 13 games, and while he still has yet to live up to his billing as the first overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, he is on pace for his first career 20-goal, 50-point campaign.
JANUARY 15•ROTOWIRE
