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Vitek Vanecek will back up Braden Holtby during today’s exhibition game against the Hurricanes

Todd Reirden announced that Vitek Vanecek will backup Braden Holtby and take the net in the third period of the Capitals’ exhibition game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Wednesday. Reirden is giving the opportunity to Vanceck over veteran Pheonix Copley, who backed up Holtby for the entirety of the 2018-19 season before losing the job to Ilya Samsonov at the start of the season.

Vanecek’s “in a good spot” to be the backup during the playoffs, Reirden said.

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By Ian Oland 1 week ago

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Capitals forward lines take shape as Ilya Samsonov misses fourth straight practice

Washington Capitals head coach Todd Reirden appears to have set his initial forward lines nine days before the team is scheduled to fly to Toronto for the 24-team playoff.

Reirden continues to group the 2018 Stanley Cup trio of Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Tom Wilson together on the first line while Nicklas Backstrom has been reunited with his normal partners on the second. And yes, the HEK line is back.

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By Ian Oland 3 weeks ago

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Todd Reirden reunites Stanley Cup line of Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Tom Wilson at camp

Washington Capitals head coach Todd Reirden may have tipped his hand on how he’d like his top six to line up in the 2020 playoffs.

According to NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti, Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Tom Wilson skated together on the first line while Nicklas Backstrom skated on the second in the team’s first session today. Backstrom appears likely to skate with Jakub Vrana and TJ Oshie, who were on the first line of the second practice group with Travis Boyd.

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By Ian Oland 3 weeks ago

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Michal Kempny likely to be scratched Wednesday against Flyers

Michal Kempny appears likely to be a healthy scratch against the Philadelphia Flyers this Wednesday as head coach Todd Reirden continues to experiment with his defensive pairs. For much of the season, Kempny skated with John Carlson on the first pair.

Kempny’s exit means Jonas Siegenthaler will remain in the lineup while Radko Gudas will get a jersey again.

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By Ian Oland 5 months ago

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Ilya Kovalchuk will play on the third line and the second powerplay unit in his Capitals’ debut

Tuesday, Ilya Kovlachuk took the ice for the first time at MedStar Capitals Iceplex after being acquired from the Montreal Canadiens for a third-round pick.

During the Capitals’ morning skate, head coach Todd Reirden placed Kovalchuk on the third line right wing, bumping Richard Panik out of the spot. Kovalchuk skated with Carl Hagelin and Lars Eller.

The Russian forward will make his Capitals debut tonight against the Winnipeg Jets. Alex Ovechkin will be honored pregame for becoming the eighth player in NHL history to score 700 goals.

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By Ian Oland 5 months ago

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During back-to-back this weekend, Ilya Samsonov will start against Devils, Braden Holtby against Penguins

Losers of five of their last six games, Ilya Samsonov (16-4-1) will get the start in goal on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils. Saturday will mark Samsonov’s 23rd birthday.

Braden Holtby (21-13-5), who has been spectacular lately, will get the nod against the first-place Pittsburgh Penguins.

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By Ian Oland 6 months ago

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Brenden Dillon will skate with John Carlson on the top pair during his Capitals’ debut

The Washington Capitals’ newest acquisition, Brenden Dillon, participated in his first practice with the team, Thursday morning.

Dillon, who joined the Capitals from the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, was matched on the first pairing with John Carlson. The 29-year-old pivot will make his Capitals debut tonight against the Montreal Canadiens.

Jonas Siegenthaler was the odd D-man out.

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By Donya Abramo and Ian Oland 6 months ago

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Evgeny Kuznetsov to miss third-straight game, will not play against Vegas Golden Knights

Evgeny Kuznetsov fully practiced with his Capitals teammates on Sunday, but he will not play Monday against the Vegas Golden Knights, per head coach Todd Reirden.

It will be Kuzy’s third-straight game missed due to an upper-body injury.

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By Ian Oland 6 months ago

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Radko Gudas to sit against Islanders as Todd Reirden continues experimenting with different defense pairings

After watching his team absorb a 7-2 shellacking from the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, Todd Reirden is making some changes to the Capitals lineup – albeit they are subtle.

Radko Gudas, who has played all 55 games this season, will be a healthy scratch for the first time in his Capitals career. The benching allows rookie Martin Fehervary to continue his audition before the trade deadline while Reirden can continue experimenting with the defense pairings. Three different defensemen (Jonas Siegenthaler, Nick Jensen, and now Gudas) have sat in the last three different games to accommodate Marty in the lineup.

Fehervary scored his first NHL point on Saturday, a secondary assist on an Evgeny Kuznetsov goal.

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By Ian Oland 6 months ago

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TJ Oshie remains on first line after spurring Alex Ovechkin to hat trick

The Washington Capitals will keep their flipped lines together from the third period of Tuesday’s 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Capitals head coach Todd Reirden threw TJ Oshie on the first line and bumped Tom Wilson down to the second. It paid immediate dividends. After failing to register a shot through the game’s first two periods, Alex Ovechkin scored on the first one he had, a brilliant pass from Oshie in the corner. Ovi would add two more in the next 4:34 to score the first natural hat trick of his career.

Reirden kept the lines together this week during practice and this morning made a change to the defensive pairings.

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By Ian Oland 6 months ago

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