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The Washington Capitals play their first preseason game tonight against Chicago. Here’s their lines and roster.

By Donya Abramo

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September 16, 2019 9:20 am

You guys, the summer is officially over!

The Washington Capitals will play their first 2019-20 preseason game at home on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks. It will serve as a Capitals debut for several players, including former Little Cap and Herndon, VA native Joe Snively, first round 2019 NHL Draft pick Connor McMichael, as well as new additions Brendan Leipsic and Garnet Hathaway.

Lines

Leipsic – Boyd – Wilson
Gersich – Dowd – Hathaway
Stephenson – McMichael – Riat
Malenstyn – Protas – Snively

Siegenthaler – Djoos
Nardella – Jensen
Johansen – Lewington

Copley
Samsonov

Notable regulars from the Capitals 2018-19 roster who will be dressing Monday night are Tom Wilson, Christian Djoos, Jonas Sigenthaler, Nic Dowd, and Travis Boyd.

The projected lines, per the Capitals, features Top Line Tom Wilson, with Pheonix Copley getting the nod in net. Ilya Samsonov will be backing Copley up. Meanwhile, Garrett Pilon, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Liam O’Brien, and Connor Hobbs are all on the roster but will be sitting this game out.

NBC Sports Washington’s Joe Beninati will have the call along with color commentator Craig Laughlin.

NHL.com’s Tracey Myers provided the lines for the Blackhawks playing against the Capitals. The lineup includes Alex Nylander, the youngest son of former Capital Michael Nylander.

The Capitals also released some game notes for the matchup against the Blackhawks, which highlighted Wilson’s goal-scoring record when facing Chicago, sitting tied for the most against a single franchise (5g) with Philadelphia.

More from the Capitals:

HOME SWEET HOME – The Capitals host the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday in the preseason opener at Capital One Arena. This is Washington’s first of six preseason games in total and the first of three home games. Since 2011-12, the Capitals are 15-5-4 at home in preseason games.

LOCAL DEBUT – Herndon, Va., native Joe Snively will be making his preseason debut with the Capitals. In his youth, Snively played for the Little Caps at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. He recorded 36 points (15g, 21a) in 33 games with Yale University last season and set a collegiate career high with five power play goals. Snively led Yale in points in all four years of his attendance and recorded 139 points (58g, 81a) in 129 career NCAA games. He was named as a Hobey Baker Award nominee last season. Additionally, Snively appeared in nine games for the Hershey Bears of the AHL last season, recording seven points (2g, 5a).

LEIPSIC DEBUT – Capitals forward Brendan Leipsic will make his Capitals debut Monday against Chicago. Leipsic recorded 23 points (7g, 16a) in 62 games with the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks last season, setting career highs in goals and points. He ranked fourth on Los Angeles in goals for percentage (51.28 percent) at five-on-five among forwards with at least 40 games played. Additionally, the Leipsic ranked second on Los Angeles in points per 60 minutes of play (1.73) and led the team in assists per 60 minutes of play (1.30) at five-on-five. In 126 career games between the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Vegas Golden Knights, Vancouver and Los Angeles, Leipsic has recorded 48 points (13g, 35a).

THE WRATH OF HATH – Garnet Hathaway, who signed a four year deal with the Capitals on July 1, will be making his preseason debut. Hathaway recorded 19 points (11g, 8a) in 76 games with the Calgary Flames last season, setting career highs in goals and points. He ranked third on Calgary in goals for percentage (62.79 percent) at five-on-five among forwards with at least 50 games played. Additionally, Hathaway ranked fourth among forwards in penalty kill time on ice per game (1:42) and scored two shorthanded goals. He led the Flames in hits (200), tied for 26th in the NHL, and ranked third among Calgary forwards in blocked shots (36).

SMOOTH LUJO – Lucas Johansen will play against Chicago on Monday. Selected with the Capitals’ first round pick, 28th overall, in the 2016 NHL Draft, Johansen recorded 14 points (3g, 11a) in 45 games with the Hershey Bears in the AHL last year. His 0.31 points per game last season tied for fourth among Hershey defensemen. In 119 career games with the Bears, Johansen has 41 points (9g, 32a).

PROTECTIVE COPS – Pheonix Copley is scheduled to start in net. Last season, Copley’s first full season in the NHL, the 27-year-old goaltender went 16-7-3 with a 2.90 goals against average and a .905 save percentage. Copley recorded 27 saves in the Capitals’ 4-3 shootout win against the Calgary Flames on Oct. 27, 2018, marking the goaltender’s first NHL win. He went on a seven-game win streak from Nov. 16, 2018 to Dec. 29, 2018, recording a 2.48 goals against average and a .922 save percentage during that span. Copley also recorded a six-game win streak from Feb. 7, 2019 to March 19, 2019, recording a 2.62 goals against average and a .913 save percentage.

SAMMY – Ilya Samsonov is expected to backup Copley in net against Chicago. Samsonov finished his first professional season last year in North America with a 20-14-2 record, a 2.70 goals against average and a .898 save percentage in 37 games with Hershey in the AHL. Samsonov tied for eighth in the AHL in shutouts (3) and won six consecutive games from Feb. 2 to Feb. 27, posting a 1.46 goals against average and a .947 save percentage in that span. Additionally, Samsonov appeared in five playoff games with Hershey, finishing with a 2-3-0 record, a 2.99 goals against average and a .897 save percentage.

Blackhawk Beaters – Washington has won eight of its last 11 games in the regular season against Chicago and has posted an 11-5-0 record in its last 16 games against the Blackhawks. Tom Wilson has nine points (5g, 4a) in 12 games against the Blackhawks, tied for the most goals he has against a single franchise (Philadelphia).

HOME GROWN – In total, 14 players selected by Washington in the NHL draft are in the lineup for Washington on Monday, including 2019 first round draft pick Connor McMichael. McMichael spent the 2018-19 season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). McMichael ranked second on London with 72 points (36g, 36a) in 67 games, while his 36 goals were tied for 20th in the OHL. The 6’0”, 182-pound forward also recorded five points (2g, 3a) in 11 playoff games. In 127 career OHL games, between London and the Hamilton Bulldogs, McMichael has recorded 88 points (44g, 44a).

STRONG FIVE YEARS – The Capitals enter 2019-20 having won the Metropolitan Division in each of the last four seasons, while also recording 100 or more standings points in five consecutive campaigns. They are one of 10 teams in NHL history to hit the 100 point mark in at least five straight seasons, with the Ducks (5; 2013-14—2017-18) the last team to do so. The only streaks longer than five seasons were achieved by the Red Wings (12; 1999-00—2011-12), Canadiens (8; 1974-75—1981-82) and Oilers (6; 1981-82—1986-87). The Capitals have recorded the most points in the NHL (548) and the second most wins (253) and home wins (136) in the NHL during that span.

Headline photo: Elizabeth Kong

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