News and Notes from Capitals’ Sunday Practice at Kettler: *Checks Fridge*, Any Djoos?

Posted on November 19, 2017 by

ARLINGTON, VA– After a thrilling win over the Wild, the Capitals hit the ice Sunday morning at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, to begin preparations for their game Monday night against the Calgary Flames. 

INJURY UPDATES
Christian Djoos wasn’t on the ice at practice this morning. He’s still recovering from an upper-body injury he suffered on Tuesday in Nashville. Still no timetable on his return.

NEWS
The Capitals began their four-game Thanksgiving homestand on the right foot with a  3-1 win over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night. T.J. Oshie, Dmitry Orlov, and Evgeny Kuznetsov each tallied the goals for Washington. Alex Ovechkin took a puck to the face around his right cheek near the nose in the second period with 11 minutes left and came out of the game for the remainder of that period. However, he came back on in the third to finish the game.

Ovechkin was okay after the game and he was on the ice Sunday morning practicing in his usual red jersey. He received a few stitches on his lip last night when he came out in the second period Saturday night but didn’t lose any teeth.

Washington continues their homestand on Monday night against the Flames. They’ll have a morning skate prior to the game at 10:15 a.m. Following the skate, Caps players expressed their excitement of playing against future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr. Jakub Vrana is excited to go up against a player he watched as a kid while growing up in the Czech Republic, the same country where Jagr is from.

“I didn’t know he was still going to play, right?” He’s 45,” Vrana told Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post.

Oshie would chime in saying: “I think everyone looks forward to playing him, even if you’ve played against him 20 times. I think it’s still cool seeing him out there because he’s one of the greatest of all-time.”

Even Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan has played against Jagr when he played hockey for the Flames. Jagr was just 17 years old on the Czechoslovakian national team.

PRACTICE VIDEO
Snipe by Jay Beagle

Other than that, Braden Holtby looked poised in the crease.

A quick stretch. Gotta stay loose!

Then it was on to full rink work.

The defense on one end.

And assistant coach Lane Lambert dishing out pucks to the forwards on the other end.

Alex Ovechkin and Chandler Stephenson working together.

At the end of practice, the forwards were each trying to take the puck away from each other. Nathan Walker robs Brett Connolly at the end.

Barry Trotz walked over to the bleachers as practice was ending and tossed a puck to this kid. I think the expression on his face says it all.

SHAVINGS

  • Braden Holtby made 30 saves on 31 shots in last night’s game against the Wild to win his fifth straight home game and 11th win of the season (11-4-0). Holtby improved to 8-2-0 all-time against the Wild.
  • The Capitals are 6-0-1 when they score first.
  • With Orlov’s goal and Niskanen and Carlson’s assists against the Wild last night, Capitals defensemen have recorded 25 points over the last 13 games (Carlson: 2g, 9a; Bowey: 5a; Orlov: 2g, 1a; Orpik 2a; Taylor Chorney: 1 g, 1a, Niskanen: 1a).
  • The Capitals are 37-42-13-2 all-time against the Flames.

CAPITALS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

RINKSIDE UPDATE: Chandler Stephenson

FLAMES IN TOWN
During the Caps game last night, the Flames rode a train from Philadelphia to DC in style. 1950’s style to be exact.

While the Caps were finishing up their work on the Capitals Rink, Johnny Gaudreau and the Flames were practicing on the public rink.

Goudreau spoke to the media following their session. Aside from “Johnny Hockey”, there were two familiar faces skating. Click here for that story.

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By Michael Marzzacco

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3 Responses to News and Notes from Capitals’ Sunday Practice at Kettler: *Checks Fridge*, Any Djoos?

  1. Pingback: Familiar Faces Return to Kettler | NoVa Caps

  2. Diane Doyle says:
    November 19, 2017 at 5:23 pm

    For perspective on how long Jagr’s been playing professional hockey. At the time he came up (in 1990), I was pregnant with my second child and had a 5 year old. Note: my then 5 year old child was born 7 months before Ovi. And the baby who I was pregnant with was born 3 months before Dmitry Orlov (and just 3 days after Dima’s wife, Varvara.)

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says:
    November 19, 2017 at 7:12 pm

    at the 1/4 mark, the Caps sit in a wildcard spot and a few points back of first. Anything can happen from here but I will say the pens will miss the playoffs. Our young D are improving but the money such as Orlov, Eller and Burky have to step it up. Grubbie hasnt done the job and Holtby has won several games while in others… we need a trade for a young D.

    Reply

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