Washington Capitals rookie winger Ivan Miroshnichenko will get top-line duty on Tuesday night against the Buffalo Sabres.
Head coach Spencer Carbery revealed after the team’s morning skate that TJ Oshie would not be available against the Sabres, making way for Miro’s promotion. Oshie had been skating on the Capitals’ first line with Alex Ovechkin and Connor McMichael.
Here’s how the whole lineup will look per the Capitals.
Miroshnichenko gets the bump up to the first line after skating the second-fewest minutes in a game he has in his NHL career against the Boston Bruins (9:14). The 20-year-old Russian recorded six points (2g, 4a) in 13 March games.
Hello, Miro pic.twitter.com/oN1fSgckoF
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 2, 2024
Ovechkin skated with Miroshnichenko on a line during the preseason and they’ve shared the ice at five-on-five for slightly under 21 minutes during the regular season. The Capitals have excelled in those minutes, seeing 68.6 percent of the shot attempts, 78.1 percent of the expected goals, 73.1 percent of the scoring chances, and 72.7 percent of the high-danger chances.
