Lines 2021-22 Season

Zach Fucale to get second straight start, Nicklas Backstrom and TJ Oshie both in line to return against Bruins

After some bad news about Dmitry Orlov, the Caps got some good news on both Nicklas Backstrom and TJ Oshie. The two forwards, who were recently placed on injured reserve due to catching the flu, took the morning skate and were full participants in line rushes.

If they take the ice against the Bruins it will be their first game back since December 31 against the Red Wings in Detroit.

After another sparkling performance in Minnesota, goaltender Zach Fucale will also get a start in back-to-back games for the first time in his NHL career.

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By Chris Cerullo 2 years ago

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Connor McMichael to be healthy scratched against Blues, Vitek Vanecek latest Capitals player to have illness

The Washington Capitals took the ice at the Enterprise Center for their morning skate in St. Louis, Friday. They will take on the Blues hours later on that same ice at 8 PM (EST).

A notable absentee from the skate was goaltender Vitek Vanecek, who the team announced made the trip but is not skating due to a non-COVID illness.

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By Chris Cerullo 2 years ago

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Busy Capitals practice sees three star players return to the ice, but four others, including Alex Ovechkin, take maintenance days

The Washington Capitals held their third straight day of practice on Thursday as they prepared to hit the road for two games in the Central Time Zone.

TJ Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom, who were previously missing due to non-COVID illnesses, and Dmitry Orlov, who missed Wednesday’s practice, were all on the ice, according to the Caps’ Mike Vogel.

Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, John Carlson, and Carl Hagelin all took maintenance days, per the team.

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By Chris Cerullo 2 years ago

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Dmitry Orlov misses practice due to injury, Peter Laviolette goes HAM with the lines

The Washington Capitals were without Dmitry Orlov at practice on Wednesday after the talented defenseman suffered an injury the day before.

With Orlov out along with star forwards TJ Oshie (illness) and Nicklas Backstrom (illness), Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette tinkered big time with the team’s lines and pairings.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Dmitry Orlov leaves Capitals practice early with apparent injury

A neverending cycle of health and unhealth has plagued the Washington Capitals this season. That was on full display at Tuesday’s practice.

Martin Fehervary practiced for the first time since being unavailable due to COVID protocol, but Nicklas Backstrom, TJ Oshie, and Connor McMichael were all out due to non-COVID illnesses.

The most concerning news occurred during the skate when defenseman Dmitry Orlov left practice early alongside Caps medical staff with an apparent injury according to The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir. It’s unclear how exactly he was injured or the severity of the injury.

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By Chris Cerullo 2 years ago

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Five Capitals players in protocol return for New Year’s Day practice as Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, and Carlson take maintenance days

The Washington Capitals held practice on New Year’s Day and saw the return of five players, who technically remain in COVID-19 protocol.

Dennis Cholowski, Nick Jensen, Justin Schultz, Daniel Sprong, and Vitek Vanecek all took part in the skate, according to the Caps’ Mike Vogel.

Meanwhile, there were a lot of players missing for various reasons.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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The COVID-ravaged Capitals’ lineup against the Jets is a strange one

The NHL is enduring what appears to be a league-wide outbreak of COVID-19. The Washington Capitals’ lineup, like several other teams recently, will be wildly shorthanded as it takes on the Winnipeg Jets north of the border.

The Capitals will be without five of its regular skaters overall and three of its four starting centers because of protocol. Evgeny Kuznetsov, who is second on the team in points (9g, 21a), will not play while Nicklas Backstrom, who made his season debut on Wednesday, is out again because of the virus.

The Capitals’ lineup is quite odd because of this.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Lines: Nicklas Backstrom appears set to make season debut against CHI, Tom Wilson misses third straight practice

The Washington Capitals’ lineup over the next few games will be… [throws up hands]. Anybody’s guess.

Unless something changes between now and Wednesday night, Nicklas Backstrom appears likely to make his season debut against the Chicago Blackhawks. He will take the morning skate in Chicago and a decision will be made later that night. That’s great news, but other injured and COVID-protocol’d players are much more complicated.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Nicklas Backstrom assigned to a line during practice for first time this season

Nicklas Backstrom made another huge step towards returning to the lineup for the first time this season.

During Monday’s practice, the Capitals’ legendary center was assigned to a line and took rushes with the team. Backstrom centered Conor Sheary and TJ Oshie.

*Typically* that indicates a player will be playing in that spot during the Capitals’ next game. The Caps play the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Evgeny Kuznetsov available against Penguins, Ilya Samsonov to start in goal

The still-super-dinged-up and COVID-protocol-ridden Washington Capitals took the ice at Medstar Capitals Iceplex before their matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Friday.

On the ice was Evgeny Kuznetsov who left Thursday’s practice early with a lower-body injury. Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette assured the media Kuzy’s absence was just precautionary and Kuznetsov took full line rushes at Friday’s morning skate.

“I just didn’t want to practice,” Kuzy joked.

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By Chris Cerullo 2 years ago

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