With the Washington DC area under a high-wind warning and enduring, at times, tropical-storm force gusts, the Capitals and Maple Leafs first practices on the outdoor rink at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium were cancelled.
At 10:30am, the Caps took to the ice at their practice facility instead and jumped out onto the ice for their second straight day of preparations ahead of the nationally broadcast Stadium Series game.
Via NBC Sports Washington’s Tarik El-Bashir, here are the lines the Capitals will be going with.
Here are the #Caps' lines today, one the day before facing the #Leafs outdoors:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Connolly-Eller-Burakovsky
Stephenson-Beagle-DSP
Out: Chiasson and Boyd.Orlov-Niskanen
Kempny-Carlson
Orpik-Djoos
Out: Jerabek and Bowey— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) March 2, 2018
Rookie defenseman Christian Djoos will return to the lineup after being scratched for the newly-acquired Jakub Jerabek. The healthy scratches will be Jerabek, Madison Bowey, Alex Chiasson, and Travis Body.
Meanwhile, the Leafs practiced 40 miles away at John McMullen Hockey Arena at the Brigade Sports Complex in Annapolis.
Boys on the bus. pic.twitter.com/k101jBli8Y
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 2, 2018
Due to the rain and high winds, the NHL disassembled the boards and covered the ice at the outdoor rink. Both teams should get their first looks at the rink Saturday during the teams’ morning skates.
The #leafs are hoping to get a skate in outdoors at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium tomorrow morning to adjust to the conditions before game-time. Weather permitting.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 2, 2018
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 2, 2018
Headline photo: Cara Bahniuk
