Photo: @Capitals
After two thrilling wins at home, the Washington Capitals have hit the road for a brief two-game trip. The first stop is in Nashville as they take on Filip Forsberg and the defending Western Conference champion Nashville Predators. Here’s the report and the scene from Nashville as the team held a morning skate prior to the contest.
THE MORNING LINES
Stephenson-Backstrom-Oshie
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-DSP
Vrana-Eller-Wilson
Connolly-Beagle-Chiasson
Djoos-Carlson
Orpik-Bowey
Orlov-Niskanen
Goalie in the starter’s net: Holtby
NEWS
Prior to the morning skate, Tyler Graovac was sent down to Hershey on a long-term conditioning loan. Trotz explained after practice that he wants Graovac to be 10 percent both health and game-wise before he’s put in a position of competing for a job.
Matt Niskanen will play tonight. He was skating on the third defensive pair alongside Dmitry Orlov and was back in his old spot on the second power play unit, replacing Christian Djoos. Trotz mentioned that the plan for Niskanen is to ease him back into game flow. If he’s up to speed, he can play up to 20 minutes.
“It’ll be a gradual process,” Barry Trotz on the plan for Matt Niskanen in his return to the lineup. #Caps #CapsPreds pic.twitter.com/sBoqI1dSGK
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikNBCS) November 14, 2017
Niskaenen also adressed the media following the skate.
“Simple is effective,” Matt Niskanen on returning to the Caps’ lineup vs. the #Predators. pic.twitter.com/3lTR277zLx
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikNBCS) November 14, 2017
FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Prior to the Caps morning skate, the Predators held a morning skate of their own. Neither Scott Hartnell or Yannick Weber were present at the skate as each suffered lower-body injuries. The Predators announced this morning that Hartnell will be out three to five weeks while Weber will be out two to four weeks. Nick Bonino will play tonight, marking his first game since Oct. 14 after suffering a lower-body injury.
No forward lines being run at AM skate, but here’s how they appeared yesterday:
Forsberg-Johansen-Arvidsson
Fiala-Turris-Smith
Salomaki-Jarnkrok-Sissons
McLeod-Bonino (IR)-Watson— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) November 14, 2017
SHAVINGS
- The Capitals went 0-1-1 last season against the Predators.
- Washington is 13-9-1-2 all-time against Nashville.
- Braden Holtby has won his last six starts and has recorded a 1.79 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage during that stretch.
- Holtby is 3-1-1 in six career starts against the Nashville Predators.
CAPITALS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Happy Birthday to @JoeBpXp !!! @NBCSWashington The best in the biz! pic.twitter.com/ozFe90vs6t
— Craig Laughlin (@Laughlin18) November 14, 2017
I think Alex Ovechkin is using @JamesHeuser‘s phone to make an Instagram story. pic.twitter.com/jA45wVhp4W
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 14, 2017
Looks like Holtby will wear his purple and white mask in honor of Hockey Fights Cancer night in Nashville. #CapsPreds pic.twitter.com/eKSq8uCNH4
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikNBCS) November 14, 2017
Welcome back, Nisky! #CapsPreds #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/bBJM1oNVdj
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 14, 2017
#Caps a.m skate in Nashville saw Matt Niskanen partnered w Orlov. Suggests Niskanen to return after 13gm absence pic.twitter.com/wirehkrsQ1
— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) November 14, 2017
By Michael Marzzacco
Follow @marswaggo
Rumors going around about S Theodore going to Buff… The Caps should bid for him! Grubbie+Gerisch+a pick? or young D? Add in Tuch!