The Capitals are heading into their second back-to-back set of games in the last five days. With the new compressed schedule this season, more back-to-backs will be played, placing a slightly higher premium on back-up goalies.
Coach Trotz stated on Wednesday that Braden Holtby and Philipp Grubauer would split the next back-to-back set of games (Tuesday against Columbus and Wednesday against the Penguins). Philipp Grubauer will get the start Tuesday night in Columbus and Braden Holtby will get the nod Wednesday night in Washington.
Philipp Grubauer in the starter’s net.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 15, 2016
Trotz on Grubauer: “We left him on an island in Carolina. No teammate deserves that.”
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 15, 2016
Trotz changed the morning skate to “optional” this morning. All players were at the skate with the exception of five players:
Not at the optional: 8, 2, 27, 74, 77
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 15, 2016
Appears Chorney is in for Schmidt tonight.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 15, 2016
Also, if there was any doubt, Burakovsky is in tonight. So, Connolly and Schmidt are expected to be the scratches.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 15, 2016
Barry Trotz addressed the media following this morning’s optional skate:
Head Coach Barry Trotz giving the nod to Philipp Grubauer tonight in Columbus. #CapsJackets pic.twitter.com/2l4L4kNNzv
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 15, 2016
By Jon Sorensen
