On Tuesday, the Capitals will play the Blues for their fifth game of the preseason as both teams prepare their lineups for the start of the regular season.
The big news is on the blue line, where John Carlson will make his return from a lower-body injury and play his first game of the preseason. Carlson, who signed an eight-year extension with the Capitals over the offseason, is slated to reunite with partner Michal Kempny on the first defensive pairing, as the two defensemen see their first action since helping the Capitals win the Stanley Cup.
Jonas Siegenthaler and Madison Bowey will play on the third pair, with Bowey looking to impress and lock up his spot as the seventh defenseman.
Devante Smith-Pelly will once again be held out of tonight’s game.
On Friday, the Capitals fell in Raleigh to the Hurricanes in a toothless 5-1 loss. Nicklas Backstrom scored his first goal of the preseason in the first period, but the team offered little fight after that.
Tuesday’s game will feature a first line of Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Tom Wilson, as the Capitals look to amp up their offensive output from previous games. Nic Dowd and Travis Boyd slot in as the third and fourth line centers, with both players likely to make the 23-man roster. Likely backup goaltender Pheonix Copley will play the entire game.
Tonight's lineup in St. Louis #CapsBlues #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/EUXFiqbyIs
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 25, 2018
The Blues will line up with a roster that closely resembles their opening night team. Jake Allen will make his first start of the preseason, and Vladimir Tarasenko slides in on the first line.
Via Chris Pinkert, NHL.com
Headline photo: Cara Bahniuk
