The Washington Capitals were back on the ice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Thursday morning for the first time since returning from their short road trip to Dallas. They’ll be looking to avoid a three-game losing streak when they host the New York Islanders at Capital One Arena on Friday night.
When the Capitals come up against the Islanders, they could do so again without number-one center Dylan Strome. The 28-year-old pivot, who didn’t travel with the club to play the Stars, returned for the start of practice on Thursday in a light blue, no-contact jersey.
However, after completing line rushes, Strome swapped out the blue for his regular red practice sweater to participate in power-play drills.
Strome, who has 10 points (2g, 8a) in nine games to start the season, suffered a lower-body injury in the first period against the Ottawa Senators last weekend. After initially leaving the game, he returned for two shifts before again heading back to the team’s locker room, playing just 2:34 of total ice time in the blowout loss.
Head coach Spencer Carbery labeled Strome out day-to-day earlier this week and had Connor McMichael take up Strome’s role as Alex Ovechkin’s center on the team’s top line against the Stars.
With Strome out of action, the Capitals recalled Ethen Frank from the AHL’s Hershey Bears. To fit Frank on their 23-man roster, the Capitals placed defenseman Rasmus Sandin on injured reserve in a corresponding move. Sandin also wore a no-contact sweater on Thursday.
“They participated today in practice,” Carbery said. “Sandy in a blue, Stromer in a blue, also got into some of the drills. So it was a good step. Talk to Serbs after today and see where they’re at for the weekend.”
The Capitals already beat the Islanders this season, handing New York a 4-2 loss on Long Island in their first win of the campaign. Last year, the East-best Caps lost three games in a row just once.
