Alex Ovechkin and TJ Oshie were back on the ice Wednesday for a brisk practice ahead of Thursday’s game against the New Jersey Devils. Ovechkin missed Tuesday’s skate due to a lower-body injury while Oshie took a personal day.
Both players rejoined the first line which was centered by Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Capitals at practice:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Vrana-Backstrom-Wilson
Sheary-Sgarbossa-Panik/Sprong
Hagelin-Dowd-HathawayDillon-Carlson
Orlov-Schmidt
Chara-Jensen
Siegenthaler-TvRSamsonov
Vanecek
Anderson— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) March 24, 2021
Here’s a pic of Ovi from John Walton.
Alex Ovechkin is on the ice for practice this morning in Arlington. Good news. pic.twitter.com/rW1rTxafZq
— John Walton (@JohnWaltonPxP) March 24, 2021
Laviolette was unsure if Ovi would play Thursday but remarked “it was great to have him out there today.”
Peter Laviolette is "hoping" Alex Ovechkin can play vs. NJD Thursday:
"I haven’t seen the trainer since practice ended here. The fact that he was out there, that’s always a positive. So I can’t say definitely one way or the other, but it was great to have him out there today.”
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) March 24, 2021
The only player who was missing from Wednesday’s skate was Lars Eller, who has missed four straight games due to a lower-body injury. Michael Sgarbossa centered the third line instead.
Lars Eller (lower body/day to day) not practicing with Capitals today. He’s missed the past 4 games but had been back at practice.
As mentioned earlier, Ovechkin and Oshie are back at practice
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) March 24, 2021
The most intriguing decision still to come is at the third-line right-wing position where Richard Panik and Daniel Sprong both took line rushes. It’s unclear who will play against the Devils. Sprong received 9:59 of ice time against the Rangers on Saturday while Panik skated only 4:28 and was benched midway through the game.
Earlier in the day, the Capitals re-assigned forwards Brian Pinho and Philippe Maillet from the taxi squad to the Hershey Bears.
#Caps re-assign forwards Brian Pinho and Philippe Maillet from Washington taxi squad to the Hershey Bears (AHL).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 24, 2021
Headline photo: Elizabeth Kong/RMNB
Share On