Capitals head coach Todd Reirden said two hours before puck drop that everyone was a game-time decision, per the Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan. And indeed, during warmups, there were several surprises.
Braden Holtby was expected to be in net after Pheonix Copley started last night against the Blues, a 4-1 loss. Instead, Copley will be in goal again — his second start in consecutive nights.
Braden Holtby is the backup tonight for "precautionary reasons," per the #Caps. They are simply being "extra cautious." The next game is not until Friday so starting Copley gives Holtby an extended break to fully recover.
— JJ Regan (@JJReganNBCS) January 16, 2019
According to NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti, Holtby told the Metro Maple Leafs during a postgame meet-and-greet last night he’d be starting Tuesday.
FWIW, Holtby told the kids from the Metro Maple Leafs last night that he's playing tonight. https://t.co/KS58ihT0Cw
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) January 15, 2019
Holtby suffered an eye injury against the Blue Jackets on the 13th but was healthy enough to return to practice the next day.
With the exception of the game against the Blues, Copley has been strong in net. This is his first back-to-back start.
Other changes include Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov flipping lines. Dmitrij Jaskin, Nic Dowd, and Jonas Siegenthaler will all get back into the lineup.
After swapping Backstrom and Kuznetsov on the top two lines later in game last night, Capitals continue that tonight.
Also Jaskin, Dowd and Siegenthaler in, Stephenson, DSP and Bowey out. https://t.co/LlkBzo4xkr
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) January 16, 2019
