The Washington Capitals had a bit of a lighter turnout at practice on Monday morning.
After seeing their early-season winning streak halted at four games by the Vancouver Canucks, team captain Alex Ovechkin, and alternate captains Tom Wilson and John Carlson, all did not take to the ice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. According to the team, all three veterans sat out for maintenance-related reasons.
Ovechkin, 40, has taken frequent maintenance days over the past few seasons. The Great 8 skated 21:24 of ice time against the Canucks, his highest single-game total this season as head coach Spencer Carbery deployed him more with the team chasing from the outset.
While Ovechkin was held off the scoresheet, Wilson (20:57) and Carlson (23:39) combined for three points (1g, 2a) in the 4-3 loss. Wilson also threw a big, open-ice hit on Canucks forward Filip Chytil that took the latter out of the contest.
Carlson, 35, has yet to play less than 21:23 of ice time in a game this season and is leading the Capitals in average time on ice per game (23:46). Wilson has played over 20 minutes in three of the team’s six games and ranks fourth overall on the team but first among the club’s forwards.
The Capitals are preparing to play their third game in five days against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night. The matchup against the road-warring Kraken is the final of the current homestand as the Caps will then travel to Columbus for a Friday night game against the Blue Jackets.
