Photo by Washington Capitals
The Capitals hit the ice at First Niagara Center in Buffalo for their morning skate. Tonight the Capitals will take on the Sabres for the third and final time this season. Puck drop is at 7:00 and you can catch the game on CSN.
Scouting the Sabres
Buffalo bounced back after Monday’s overtime loss to Washington with an overtime win over the Oilers. Evander Kane tied the game late in the third period with his second goal of the night and Rasmus Ristolainen scored the game-winner. You can check out tonight’s game preview here.
PRACTICE LINES
Trotz is sticking with the same lines from the other night, no surprise there. There’s some changes on the blue. “Carlzner” will be the first defensive pair and Brooks Orpik and Dmitry Orlov at the second.
Caps’ lines:
90-19-77
8-92-14
65-20-13
26-83-43
27-74
44-9
88-4— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 9, 2016
Matt Niskanen didn’t join the team in Buffalo after being hit from behind into the boards the other night near the end of the opening period which prompted these changes. Taylor Chorney is placed on the third defensive line with Nate Schmidt. Aaron Ness was called up from Hershey as an insurance policy. With Niskanen out, the second power play unit looked like this at morning practice:
PP2 without Niskanen: 14, 65, 13, 92, 9. Caps usually go with two D on second power play, but Burakovsky is back in.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 9, 2016
Mike Vogel and John Walton discuss tonight’s matchup with the Sabres on their “Two Man Advantage”:
.@VogsCaps and @WaltonCaps preview the final game of the season series vs. Buffalo from KeyBank Center in Two-Man Advantage. #CapsSabres pic.twitter.com/aEyQ450l7H
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 9, 2016
Philipp Grubauer was in the starter’s net indicating that he will get the start tonight at goaltender. Grubauer’s last start came on Black Friday (Nov. 25) in a 3-1 win over the Sabres on his 25th birthday. Funny moment happened in practice. Don’t worry, Grubauer was fine.
Defensemen are shooting from the blue line. Trotz shot the rebound in front and the puck went off Grubauer’s mask. Trotz was VERY apologetic
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 9, 2016
INTERVIEWS
Nate Schmidt:
Schmidty and @VogsCaps talk pregame scouting, his assist on Backy’s OTGWG & slowing down Buffalo’s forwards on Rinkside Update. #CapsSabres pic.twitter.com/nXVJvRl34u
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 9, 2016
Barry Trotz:
#Caps head coach Barry Trotz talks to the media prior to the final game against the Buffalo Sabres of the season. #CapsSabres #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/jW4XGFD7Nz
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 9, 2016
GAMEDAY LINKS
Caps Have Friday Night Date with Sabres in Buffalo (Mike Vogel)
With Matt Niskanen injured, Capitals recall defenseman Aaron Ness (Washington Post)
By Michael Marzzacco
