The Washington Capitals are set to return to KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Thursday night to play a Sabres team that handed them a 6-2 defeat just last week. The Capitals, coming off a huge 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, are sticking with the same lineup heading into Buffalo.
Spencer Carbery revealed the news during his pregame media session. “No changes this evening, same lineup,” he said.
Here’s a refresher on what that will look like.
The Capitals going with the same personnel means that rookie winger Ivan Miroshnichenko will sit in the press box for the second straight game. The young Russian had played in 17 consecutive games until Nicolas Aube-Kubel replaced him in the lineup against Detroit.
In his last game, Miroshnichenko skated just 6:05 of ice time on the team’s fourth line in a loss to the Ottawa Senators. Carbery explained the absence in Detroit by remarking that he believes Miroshnichenko has hit a wall in his rookie campaign.
“It’s to be expected,” Carbery said. “He’s been put in a real tough spot as a young player. Doesn’t have a long career in Hershey and playing in the American Hockey League – coming right over and being thrown into the fire.”
Outside of Miroshnichenko sitting for another game, the only other news from the Capitals’ morning skate is that Charlie Lindgren was the first goaltender off the ice. Lindgren will get his 45th start of the season against a Sabres team that put six goals by him, leading to him getting pulled by Carbery.
Lindgren has amassed a 1-2-1 record with a 3.46 goals-against average and a .890 save percentage in four April starts. His best appearance came on Tuesday night in Detroit when he stopped 42 of 43 shots in his first win since March 26.
The Sabres return home after an unsuccessful two-game road trip that saw them officially eliminated from playoff contention. The Capitals need a win on the road to remain in the second wild card playoff spot as the Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Islanders are all also scheduled to get games in on Thursday night.
Puck drop is set for 7 pm.
