Following their fourth straight loss, the Washington Capitals have drastically shuffled lines at Saturday morning’s practice. Having scored just four goals in those four losses, the team appears desperate for more offense.
And oh, by the way, Evgeny Kuznetsov has been demoted to the third line.
Caps in practice today:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Vrana-Eller-Wilson
Burakovsky-Kuznetsov-Connolly
Stephenson-Dowd-DSPOrlov-Carlson
Kempny-Niskanen
Orpik-Bowey/SiegenthalerInteresting.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 19, 2019
TJ Oshie hops to the top line, with Lars Eller leapfrogging to the second with Tom Wilson at his flank. Kuznetsov, who was just one goal at five-on-five play this season, now centers the third line.
“We’re just not feeling it,” Matt Niskanen said after Friday’s loss to the New York Islanders, who now lead the division. Maybe these forward-line changes will help.
Headline photo: Elizabeth Kong