Photo: @Capitals
The Capitals return home from a one-game road trip to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7th and F Street tonight. Here are the news and notes from the morning skate.
News:
Brett Connolly is the closest to returning to the lineup. He will not play tonight against Pittsburgh but it is possible that he can return on Sunday against the Edmonton Oilers. Connolly has missed six games since taking a hit from Vancouver Canucks’ defenseman Erik Gudbranson in a 6-2 loss to the Canucks on October 26.
Among the #Caps the injured, Trotz said Connolly and Graovac figure to be the first two to return. Won’t be tonight, but I’d suspect Sunday vs. the #Oilers is in play.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikNBCS) November 10, 2017
Liam O’Brien is expected to play against the Penguins tonight on the fourth line with Jay Beagle and Alex Chiasson. Forward Jakub Vrana is expected to play on the third line with Lars Eller and Tom Wilson. That means that Chandler Stephenson will take his spot on the top line next to Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie. Backstrom is on a career-long seven-game point scoring drought while Oshie has two assists in his past eight games.
Defenseman Matt Niskanen was participating in the morning skate but was wearing a no-contact jersey. He said that he’ll need more time before playing on Thursday.
Barry Trotz said that Evgeny Kuznetsov has to shoot from the blue paint more. He scored four goals and seven points in last year’s seven-game playoff series against the Penguins last May.
Trotz is asked if he wants Kuznetsov to shoot more. “Especially when he’s in the blue paint,” he says. A reference to that OT decision against Arizona.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 10, 2017
The Capitals are three points behind the Penguins and the New Jersey Devils for first place in the Metropolitan Division entering play on Friday.
Capitals Lines for Friday Night’s Game vs. Pittsburgh
#Caps lines vs. #Pens: 18-19-77; 8-92-25; 13-20-43; 87-83-39. D-pairs: 29-74; 44-22; 9-4. So 10, 79, 91, 2 and 55 appear out. 22 returns.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikNBCS) November 10, 2017
Aaron Ness and Nathan Walker are the healthy scratches for tonight’s game.
Interviews:
Rinkside Update | @orlov_09 playing in his 300th career NHL game tonight. #CapsPens #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/KRRPUznt5u
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 10, 2017
#Caps head coach Barry Trotz talks to the media prior to tonight’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. #CapsPens #ALLCAPShttps://t.co/iGnwZOX9g5
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 10, 2017
Shavings
-Dmitry Orlov will play in his 300th NHL game tonight
-Braden Holtby is one win shy of his 200th career NHL win
-The Capitals are 4-3-3 in their past 10 games against the Penguins, including 2-0-2 last season. They dropped the previous meeting 3-2 on October 11 at Capital One Arena.
Capitals Today
CAPS TODAY: Braden Holtby is on a four-game win streak and has a 2.22 goals against average and a .934 save percentage over his last four starts. https://t.co/wvKqiUWnv5 pic.twitter.com/ZJ8CAX7Rn4
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 10, 2017
Capitals on Social Media
Sometimes morning skates are for celly practice @TJOshie77 #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/i6NH1D0v0z
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 10, 2017
With a win tonight, Braden Holtby would become the second fastest goalie to 200 wins (319 games), second only to Ken Dryden (311). pic.twitter.com/DUu0e9LbIU
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikNBCS) November 10, 2017
Remember that great chance Kuzy had in OT that he passed away for no good reason? Trotz sure does. https://t.co/nPPCDI0ZkC
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) November 10, 2017
By Harrison Brown
