The Washington Capitals are facing the Chicago Blackhawks tonight. The team will be making its first defensive substitution of the season. Nate Schmidt is out while Taylor Chorney will be receiving a jersey for the first time this season.
BARRY TROTZ HAS SOUNDED THE CHORN HORN.
John Carlson, Dmitry Orlov, Karl Alzner, Matt Niskanen, Nate Schmidt, and Brooks Orpik all dressed in the team’s first 12 games to start the season and for good reason. Those six pivots have been tremendous, giving up the second least amount of goals league-wide (27). As of last Sunday, every defenseman except Karl Alzner (barely) were positive possession players. And Brooks Orpik has led the pack in a reduced roll from the team’s third pairing.
With the team playing in back-to-back games Friday and Saturday, Trotz decided that Chorney, who was given a two-year extension for his exemplary work last season, would replace Schmidt. Chorns was excited.
Looks like Chorney will make his debut (for Schmidt.) "I'm pumped. You can't really ask for a better environment than this," Chorney said.
— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) November 11, 2016
Because the Capitals’ morning skate was optional, the defensive pairings are unclear. But expect Chorney to take Schmidt’s spot on the third pairing alongisde Brooks Orpik.
Headline image: Jamie Squire
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