Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery is making a homecoming of sorts, when his team squares off against the Toronto Maple Leafs and it’s clear that he’s keeping a keen eye on his former club.

Carbery was an assistant for the Maple Leafs during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons under Sheldon Keefe’s regime, before joining the Capitals.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has implemented a new system in his first season with the team, and Carbery outlined in detail what stands out about his Toronto, ahead of Saturday’s matchup.

“A couple things: the forecheck pressure, obviously you’re going to have work your way through that because you know they’re going to put a ton of pucks in behind you,” Carbery said. “It may seem like an easy accomplishment to just go ‘OK, well we’ll break their forecheck pressure’ but when they do it time and time and time again, eventually they’re just hoping you crack one or two times. We have to stay consistent with our breakout structure, supporting it, finding ways to advance out of our zone.”

“Another thing I think, which is maybe is a little bit of moves they made,” Carbery added. “They added (Chris) Tanev and (Oliver Ekman-Larsson) OEL — they defend the interior of the rink as good as anybody. I know a lot of people talk about the goalies and they’re having great years but a lot of that, when I watch the film, is them protecting the inside of the rink. It’s so hard to get in there a) with people and b) with pucks delivered into there, and so they really push you to earn your offence against them 5-on-5.”

Alexander Ovechkin returns to the lineup Saturday, after recovering from a fractured fibula. Ovechkin collided with Jack McBain of the Utah Hockey Club on November 18 and has missed 16 games. Washington has posted a 10-5-1 record in this span. Ovechkin has recorded 15 goals and 25 points in 18 games, and he’s looking to break Wayne Gretzky’s record as the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer — Gretzky sits at 894, while Ovechkin is currently at 868 career goals.

Carbery outlined that most players aren’t particularly concerned about Ovechkin’s pursuit of Gretzky’s record on a day-to-day basis, while noting earlier that he believes his captain is the greatest goal-scorer of all-time.

“You know what’s funny? I genuinely believe this, and I don’t know what the guys say about this: when we’re in the moment, you’re obviously on the edge of your seat, and when he scores, especially at home, you can feel the excitement. But as far as the build-up and the media attention and the chase and the number and what it’s at, I honestly don’t think guys pay that much attention to it, other than the fact that we’re waiting for him help us win another hockey game. But then you say the number, and I’ll catch myself after the game.”

“In the moment, it’s a real narrow focus. And I’ve said this before: I think it’s one of the reasons why he’s been so successful. He’s so narrowly focused on winning tonight against Toronto, and scoring one goal tonight to help us win a hockey game. Trying to do it 27 or whatever it is, more times, that’s one of the reasons why he’s been able to be so successful and so consistent with his goal-scoring.”

All eyes will be on Ovechkin when the puck drops Saturday night. Washington has shown no issues scoring at 5-on-5 with 84 goals, the third-best total in the league, and will be looking to get pucks to the net-front, as Toronto, led by Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe, are tasked with minimizing the danger in a clash of styles.

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