The Capitals have changed their fourth line ahead of Wednesday night’s game against the New York Rangers. The lines in morning practice had Nathan Walker sliding in alongside center Nic Dowd and right winger Devante Smith-Pelly.
Walker replaces Dimitrij Jaskin, who was recently acquired from the St. Louis Blues. Walker played the first two games of the regular season before losing his place to Jaskin.
The rest of the lines remain the same from Saturday’s loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Projected Lines
Ovechkin – Kuznetsov – Stephenson
Vrana – Backstrom – Oshie
Burakovsky – Eller – Connolly
Walker – Dowd – DSP
Orlov – Niskanen
Kempny – Carlson
Orpik – Djoos
Holtby
Walker, Dowd, and DSP started the season decently, getting out-attempted 14 to 11 when on the ice.
Jaskin did not bring defensive stability in the two games he played with Dowd and DSP, as the fourth line was out-attempted 13 to 8 in 12 minutes. Jaskin did see the ice with Dowd and Chandler Stephenson. That line combination broke even on shot attempts in 10 minutes played.
In other roster news, Travis Boyd skated in a no-contact jersey for the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury in a preseason game against the Blues. Boyd wore a protective boot while rehabbing the injury, but he was seen walking without the boot at Capitals’ Casino Night.
Boyd is on long-term injured reserve, so he will miss at least five more games before reactivation.
Travis Boyd is skating around a bit this morning. Light-blue jersey, which means no contact. Had a protective boot on his left foot, which isn’t there anymore. Still has to miss five more games as part of LTIR.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) October 17, 2018
When Boyd returns, the Capitals will have to place one player on waivers. Walker will be looking to earn his spot in the line-up tonight, as he is the likely choice to be replaced.
Headline photo: Cara Bahniuk
