The Capitals are getting ready to face the Tampa Bay Lightning, who lead the league with 34 points. The Capitals did not hold a practice yesterday but were back on the ice this morning prior to tonight’s 5:00 puck drop at Capital One Arena. They conclude a four-game homestand against the Bolts and make a quick turnaround, playing the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre tomorrow night. 

Capitals’ Lineup against the Lightning:

So, Caps expected lineup vs. TBL:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Connolly-Eller-DSP
Stephenson-Beagle-Chiasson

Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Carlson
Chorney-Bowey

Grubauer

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 24, 2017

News:

The Capitals recalled Tyler Graovac from AHL Hershey. He played three games with the Capitals before getting hurt on October 17 against the Maple Leafs. Graovac, who was acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Wild prior to the expansion draft, had no points and was a -1 in the three games he played in. He will not be in the lineup against the Lightning. The Capitals also placed defenseman Christian Djoos on injured reserve.

Caps have recalled Tyler Graovac from his conditioning loan in Hershey. D Christian Djoos on injured reserve.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 24, 2017

Jakub Vrana will be back on the team’s second power-play unit. He scored two goals against the Ottawa Senators in the Capitals’ 5-2 win on Wednesday.

Jakub Vrana, back on the second power play.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 24, 2017 

Philipp Grubauer will get the start against Tampa Bay. He made 36 saves in Washington’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Bolts on October 9. He is still searching for his first win, going into this contest 0-5-1 with an .876 save percentage and a 3.86 goals against average. Lifetime against Tampa Bay, Grubauer is 3-0-1 with a .923 save percentage and a 2.61 goals against average in four career outings.

Trotz on why Grubauer is starting front end of back-to-back this time:
“Just to change it, maybe just change things a little, the order. [Grubauer] has worked hard. He gets an opportunity at home here. More than anything, he just deserved it.”

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) November 24, 2017

Djoos, who has a concussion, as well as forward Andre Burakovsky, who has been out since October 21 with a broken hand, skated a few days ago.

Djoos and Burakovsky skated two days ago. They’ll skate again today. Burakovsky has a broken thumb. Djoos has a suspected concussion.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 24, 2017

The Capitals’ annual canine calendar will be available during tonight’s game.

NEWS: 2018 Caps Canine Calendar Now Available via @MSEFndn, With All Proceeds Benefitting @HomewardTrails: https://t.co/Xk44t6Re1i
Purchase Here: https://t.co/FCEqeYopmTpic.twitter.com/8W6cz1QxFa

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 24, 2017

Interviews:

Rinkside Update | @tom_wilso and the boys test their skill against the top team in the league tonight in DC. #CapsBolts #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/xhIu7mOb0y

— #CapsGiving🦃 (@Capitals) November 24, 2017

The Other Side:

The Lightning recalled forward Cory Conacher up from AHL Syracuse. He scored a goal and 4 points in 11 games with Tampa Bay last season. They have won six of their past seven games, most recently winning 3-2 in overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime on Wednesday after trailing 2-0.

Steven Stamkos has 4 goals and 12 points in his past 7 games.

Skate Shavings:

-Tonight will be the second of three meetings between the Capitals and Lightning this season. They will meet again on February 20 at Capital One Arena for the final meeting between the two teams.

-Alex Ovechkin has 41 goals and 83 points in 64 career outings against Tampa Bay, the second most points he has against a single NHL franchise (88 vs. Atlanta/Winnipeg)

-The Capitals have won four straight home games against Tampa Bay, outscoring them 17-7 in that span

-Nicklas Backstrom has 44 assists lifetime against the Lightning, the most he’s had against a single NHL franchise; he celebrated his 30th birthday yesterday

-Evgeny Kuznetsov scored his 6th goal and 3rd on the power play on Wednesday vs Ottawa; he leads the Capitals with 20 assists and 26 points this season

-The Capitals have gotten a point in their past nine games against the Lightning, going 7-0-2 in that span. They have not lost to the Lightning in regulation since November 1, 2014

-T.J. Oshie has 12 goals and 22 points with a +15 rating in 15 career games against Tampa Bay

Capitals Today:

CAPS TODAY: Jakub Vrana enters tonight’s game after scoring two goals against the Ottawa Senators on Nov. 22, marking his first career multi-goal game and his third point in two games (2g, 1a). https://t.co/7uZm34G9mj pic.twitter.com/berKwt5Nbc

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 24, 2017

Capitals on Social Media:

Meet Chad, a pretty cute pup and one of the stars of the 2018 #CapsCanineCalendar benefiting @HomewardTrails. Get your calendar now at Caps home games or https://t.co/Lgegbp1tit pic.twitter.com/kWtYyHwDqk

— Tom Wilson (@tom_wilso) November 24, 2017

Time to digest that 🦃 & get ready for @Capitals hockey! Watch #CapsRedLine to get ready for tonight’s 5 pm #CapsBolts puck drop. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/ksK9rH6w3h

— MonumentalSportsNet (@MonSportsNet) November 24, 2017

#Movember Stache Status! Check out @Capitals forward @TJOshie77‘s mo and donate here: https://t.co/44TPFJIA52 pic.twitter.com/hA0kBmy60o

— NHL (@NHL) November 24, 2017

ALL WEEKEND LONG!

Save 20% on Capitals and Wizards tickets for games played at Capital One Arena. Use promo code: TMNTX. https://t.co/T8MzSVFHL4 pic.twitter.com/GsHQKcjKfV

— #CapsGiving🦃 (@Capitals) November 23, 2017

By Harrison Brown