After participating in a full practice yesterday, captain Alex Ovechkin is taking a maintenance day and did not participate in practice.
Ovechkin is using the day to tend to an upper-body injury, and in Ovi’s absence, Travis Boyd has filled in on the top-line left wing slot. Boyd also filled in on Ovechkin’s spot on the first power play unit drills, which is a likely indication that Ovi will play tomorrow.
So Capitals today at practice without Ovechkin (upper body maintenance)
Boyd-Backstrom-Wilson
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Connolly
Burakovsky-Eller-DSP
Jaskin-Dowd-StephensonOrlov-Niskanen
Kempny-Carlson
Djoos-BoweySiegenthaler
Holtby
Copley— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) November 29, 2018
In more good news, both Michal Kempny and Devante Smith-Pelly, who took maintenance days yesterday for their own injuries, both fully participated in practice and are expected to play tomorrow against the New Jersey Devils.
Asked Kempny if he'll play tomorrow after missing practice yesterday (upper-body maintenance) & he said "of course."
Same question for DSP (lower-body maintenance yesterday) & he said "I think so."
Has some swelling after taking shot off right ankle on Monday. Mostly subsided.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) November 29, 2018
Evgeny Kuznetsov is also back in a normal practice jersey after he was in a no-contact jersey during yesterday’s practice. He centered a line with Jakub Vrana and Brett Connolly, but it’s unclear if he’ll be ready to go for the game tomorrow.
Reirden expects Ovechkin, Smith-Pelly and Kempny to all play tomorrow.
Less sure on Kuznetsov, who hasn’t been cleared yet, but as I tweeted earlier, he looked fairly full-go in practice today.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 29, 2018
In less good news, TJ Oshie still has not taken to the ice since his concussion.
Good chance Evgeny Kuznetsov will return to Capitals' lineup vs. Devils tomorrow night.
T.J. Oshie still isn't skating.
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) November 29, 2018
Headline photo: Elizabeth Kong
