The Washington Capitals returned to Kettler Capitals Iceplex Saturday for a morning skate and final preparations in advance of Game 5 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Game 5 is tonight at Verizon Center. Puck drop is 7:15 pm.
Photo: Washington Capitals
MORNING SKATE
Practice lines at morning skate remained the same as yesterday, with Andre Burakovsky and Alex Ovechkin exchanging first and third line roles. To confuse the matter a bit, Ovechkin wore a red (top-six) practice jersey this morning, leading some to initially deduce he was returning to the first line.
#Caps lines:
65-19-77
90-92-14
8-20-43
26-83
Connolly is taking rushes, but it looks like 7 D— JJ Regan (@JJReganCSN) May 6, 2017
According to the Washington Post, the Capitals will once again go with 7 defensemen in tonight’s lineup.
Connolly, Carey and Chorney taking scratches skate. So, 7D again tonight.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 6, 2017
Capitals head coach Barry Trotz spoke with the media following the Capitals morning skate:
#Caps head coach Barry Trotz talks to the media prior to tonight’s Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. #CapsPens#RockTheRedpic.twitter.com/wQGuFXsXqf
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 6, 2017
Photos from this morning’s skate at Kettler are here: Rosters and stats for tonight’s game can be accessed here:
ROSTER MANAGEMENT:
The Capitals reassigned Chandler Stephenson to Hershey on Saturday morning. The Bear’s begin their second round of the AHL playoffs tonight when they host the Providence Bruins. A complete series preview is here:
New items will be available in the Hershey Sports main store tonight once doors open for the game! 🐻🏒 #HBH #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/xELgnU1BsF
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) May 6, 2017
FROM THE OTHER SIDE:
Sidney Crosby and Conor Sheary both passed the baseline concussion tests, and are formally listed as “game time decisions”. Sullivan added that Crosby has “had a number of positive days.” The NHL’s concussion protocol can be read here:
GAME LINKS:
Caps Seek to Stay Alive in Game 5 (Mike Vogel)
Washington Capitals Playoff Elimination Preparedness Guide (Jason Rogers)
Expect To See A Lot of Diffeent Line Combinations From The Caps in Game 5 (J.J. Regan)
Caps Today and Top Game Notes, 5/6/17 (Capitals Public Relations)
Will Alex Ovechkin ever find Stanley Cup success? (USA Today)
RINKSIDE UPDATE:
Mike Vogel sits with Lars Eller for today’s “Rinkside Update”:
Rinkside Update | Caps Center Lars Eller on playing alongside Ovi and tonight’s Game 5 tilt. pic.twitter.com/gERGwtb8YH
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 6, 2017
SHAVINGS:
- All-time, Washington is 14-22 in Game 5’s, 10-13 at home and 5-4 when trailing 3-1 in a series. (Ted Starkey)
- In the Ovechkin era, trailing 3-1 in a series, Washington is 3-0 when Game 5 is at Verizon Center (2008, 2009, 2016). (Ted Starkey)
- Washington has overcome a 3-1 series deficit twice in franchise history, most recently in the 2009 Eastern Conference quarterfinals. The Capitals defeated the Rangers in seven games after trailing the series 3-1 and outscored New York 11-4 in the final three games of the series.
COACHES QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Trotz: “We’re winning a lot of the analytics wars, but we have to win the scoreboard war.”
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 6, 2017
FAN PIC OF THE DAY:
Oshie’s sending his prayers out to the hockey gods on this gloomy morning 🙏🏻🏒❤️💙#LetsGoCaps #RocktheRed #CapsPens pic.twitter.com/RHQYSEYstK
— mic🦈 (@electtricdaisy) May 6, 2017
By Jon Sorensen
Follow @NoVa_Caps
