The Capitals hit the ice for practice this morning fresh off a 3-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks. They will hit the road to New York where they’ll take on the Islanders in Brooklyn tomorrow night. 

The force was with the home team last night on Star Wars Night. Alex Ovechkin notched his 200th power play goal and Braden Holtby got the shutout in a 3-0 win over Vancouver. It was the Capitals’ fourth win in a row.

Scouting the Islanders:
The Islanders and Caps go head to head tomorrow night. Washington isn’t holding a morning skate tomorrow. The Isles carry an 11-11-5 record with 27 points occupying the eighth spot in the Metropolitan Division. John Tavares leads the Islanders in goals (9), assists (13) and points (22). Be sure to check out our game preview, which will be up on the site later.

Practice Lines:
The lines from practice were the same from their game last night. Brett Connolly and Taylor Chorney were the healthy scratches.

Caps lines today (same): Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Williams; Johansson-Backstrom-Oshie; Burakovsky-Eller-Vrana; Winnik-Beagle-Wilson: Connolly

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) December 12, 2016

Caps D: Alzner-Carlson; Orlov-Niskanen; Orpik-Schmidt; Chorney (paired with Connolly)

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) December 12, 2016

Practice Video:

Getting some practice shots on Holtby @NoVa_Caps pic.twitter.com/UMY2XVwpR8

— Michael Marzzacco (@Marswaggo) December 12, 2016

@NoVa_Caps pic.twitter.com/FRWz3mgwNl

— Michael Marzzacco (@Marswaggo) December 12, 2016

#Caps having a little fun with a shootout relay. Holtby stopped Kuzy, but Backstrom, Oshie and Carlson potted theirs to lift the red team… pic.twitter.com/TCNzuJYddC

— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) December 12, 2016

SCENES FROM KETTLER
Jay Beagle took his son Brandt out on the ice after practice for some father-son bonding:

Jay Beagle & Brandt pic.twitter.com/p77VtNpy75

— Jill Sorenson (@JillCSN) December 12, 2016

Happy 16th Birthday to Kayla of Hagerstown who skipped school to attend practice this morning. She wanted a hug from Tom Wilson and after waiting for nearly an hour outside the rink after practice, she got her wish!

INTERVIEWS

John Walton spoke with Jay Beagle for today’s Rinkside Update:

Rinkside Update – Jay Beagle joins @waltoncaps this morning to discuss the surging PK and his son skating after practice . #RockTheRedpic.twitter.com/VSD18xXfEu

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 12, 2016

By Michael Marzzacco

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