After being forced out for a month due to an upper-body injury, Andre Burakovsky returned in time for the start of the Eastern Conference Final.
In those four games back, Burakovsky has struggled, collecting only two shots on goal and no points.
Barry Trotz has seen enough. Burakovsky will sit out for Game Five as Alex Chiasson jumps back into the lineup.
#Caps’ Game 5 lines:
Nicklas Backstrom returns to the second line. Alex Chiasson draws back in. Andre Burakovsky is odd man out. #ALLCAPS
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Stephenson-Backstrom-Oshie
Vrana-Eller-Connolly
DSP-Beagle-Chiasson— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) May 19, 2018
“This is a now business, right now. Talking with staff and looking at his game and all that, this is what we felt was the best lineup for tonight,” Trotz said after the skate. “That doesn’t mean Andre’s not going to be back in or anything. He’s a good young player, missed a lot of time, and not as much impact as we hoped. So we discussed this and felt this was the best lineup moving forward.”
Barry Trotz discusses why Andre Burakovsky will be scratched for Game 5. “This is a ‘now’ business right now,” he said. Trotz also addresses Nicklas Backstrom returning to the second line. #Caps #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/zgFmEQZOxB
— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) May 19, 2018
The Caps head coach also returned Nicklas Backstrom to his second-line pivot role, where the Swedish center will skate between Chandler Stephenson and TJ Oshie. Lars Eller was dropped back to the third line after committing a whole bunch of minor penalties.
Game Five’s puck drop from Amalie Arena is 7:15 PM this evening.
