The Washington Capitals are retooling their lines again ahead of their second game against the Penguins this season. The middle six is where the most change has happened.
Head coach Peter Laviolette has bumped Daniel Sprong up to the second line with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Jakub Vrana. Laviolette has also placed TJ Oshie on the third with Lars Eller and Richard Panik.
By Ian Oland 3 months ago
The Washington Capitals held a short practice after their scrimmage on Thursday. It was there they worked on their special teams for the first time.
Despite the Washington Capitals’ power play taking a step back last season, new head coach Peter Laviolette and longtime Capitals assistant coach Blaine Forsythe are not making any personnel changes to the first unit.
After making his Capitals’ training camp debut on Tuesday afternoon, Zdeno Chara took the ice with the Capitals’ first group — essentially a very close version of the Caps opening night roster — Wednesday morning.
Chara’s signing was intriguing last week, not only because no one believed he would leave the Bruins this late in his career, but because it was not clear where he’d fit in Washington’s plans this season. Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette revealed his plans for The Big Z minutes into practice.
By Ian Oland 3 months ago
Kirby Dach’s injury will ultimately be Connor McMichael’s gain.
A day after announcing that Dach would miss the entire 2021 World Junior Championship due to a fractured wrist, Team Canada moved McMichael out of their bottom six and will have the Capitals’ blue-chipper center the first line.
Canada plays Germany at 4 PM on Saturday – their first game of the WJC. Canada is trying to repeat as champions.
Backy’s back, all right!
You guys, Nicklas Backstrom will play in Game Five. Backstrom has been out since the second period of Game One after taking a late, blindside hit from Anders Lee. Backstrom suffered a concussion on the play.
He’s back.
John Carlson will make his 2020 playoffs debut Wednesday in Game One of the Washington Capitals’ first-round series against the New York Islanders. Carlson has not played since July 29 when he got tangled and awkwardly fell into the boards during the Capitals’ only exhibition game in the bubble.
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.
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.
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.
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.
