Ryan Leonard looks likely to be back in the Washington Capitals’ lineup for Game 4 of their second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 20-year-old winger was a healthy scratch in Games 2 and 3, replaced by veteran forward Taylor Raddysh.
According to the Washington Post’s Bailey Johnson, Leonard left the ice at the team’s morning skate with Andrew Mangiapane, Trevor van Riemsdyk, and Nic Dowd while Raddysh skated with the other likely scratches for Game 4: Ethan Bear, Dylan McIlrath, and Ethen Frank.
Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery refused to clarify anything about his lineup for the game during his pregame media availability.
“You’ll see at warmup tonight, but, yeah, you’ll find out then,” he said.
Leonard had played in 15 straight games for the Capitals until he was scratched for Game 2, dating back to his NHL debut on April 1 against the Boston Bruins during the regular season. The rookie forward recorded one point in his first six career playoff games and has yet to score a postseason goal.
“Anytime a young player gets to take a step back, clear his mind, watch an NHL game, I believe it’s helpful, even though sometimes they would disagree with that,” Carbery said Monday.
The 2023 first-round pick is averaging 10:21 of ice time per game in the playoffs, which is the lowest mark on the Capitals. Leonard has recorded 11 shots on goal, thrown seven hits, and drawn two penalties in five games against the Montreal Canadiens and one game against the Hurricanes.
Carbery recently spoke about the pressure to produce as a young player that Leonard has faced so early in his pro career, and if that pressure has led to a tough start for the highly-hyped rookie.
“I would correct you right away and say, who expects him to score a goal?” Carbery said last week. “Because that wasn’t my expectations at all. If he does — that’s not to say that he can’t or you don’t want him to — but him coming to our team after his season ended and coming to the NHL level, I had no preconceived notions or fantasies that Ryan Leonard was going to come in and dominate the National Hockey League this time of year, especially in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.”
Raddysh did not record any points in his two games against the Hurricanes, skating with Lars Eller and Andrew Mangiapane on the Capitals’ third line. During their shifts, the Caps were out-attempted 26 to 13 and out-chanced 13 to 7.
Puck drop for Game 4 at the Lenovo Center is set for 7:00 pm.
