The Washington Capitals will wrap up their preseason with a home finale against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night. The exhibition matchup serves as a dress rehearsal for the regular season, and most of the team’s veterans typically will get a sweater.
Head coach Spencer Carbery is largely following that example, set to deploy a lineup that will largely be the same against the Boston Bruins on October 8. Captain Alex Ovechkin will dress for the second time this fall, joined by other key veterans like John Carlson, Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome, and Pierre-Luc Dubois.
A few of the players on the bubble of the roster will also get a final chance to impress, including Hendrix Lapierre, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Dylan McIlrath, and Declan Chisholm.
Ovechkin, 40, had sat out the first four preseason games this year after missing the beginning of camp due to a lower-body injury. By playing on Saturday, he’ll satisfy Carbery’s desire to see him play in at least two games ahead of starting his 21st NHL season.
The Great 8 played 21:07 of ice time against the Boston Bruins on Thursday, firing one shot on goal and throwing three hits. He’ll skate with his most common linemates from last year, Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas, for the first time since last spring.
Notably not participating against Columbus are Ethen Frank, Sonny Milano, Vincent Iorio, and Clay Stevenson. All four players are on the fringe of the team and will need waivers to be assigned to the AHL’s Hershey Bears if the Capitals do not opt to carry them into the regular season.
Carbery ran most of Saturday’s team through line rushes at practice on Friday, including the return of Lapierre as the third-line center in place of Connor McMichael. The only difference from practice will be Miroshnichenko stepping in for Anthony Beauvillier, and the club’s usual third pairing of Jakob Chychrun and Trevor van Riemsdyk sitting out.
Projected Capitals lineup for preseason finale
Puck drop at Capital One Arena is scheduled for 7 pm. Monumental Sports Network will televise the game.
After the final buzzer sounds, the Capitals will have until 5 pm on October 6 to submit their opening 23-man roster. They currently have four extra players remaining at camp.
