Photo: @Capitals

It’s been five days since the Capitals last played a game. Tonight they’ll begin a season-long five-game homestand against the Los Angeles Kings. After a few days of roster moves, the big question entering tonight’s tilt is whether or not Christian Djoos will return to the lineup. The team held a morning skate at Kettler on Thursday and we all found out his status. Plus, another player has been placed on waivers. 

THE MORNING LINES

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Graovac-Eller-DSP
Stephenson-Beagle-Chiasson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Carlson
Djoos-Bowey
Starting goalie: Braden Holtby

NEWS
Brett Connolly is scratched in favor of Tyler Graovac on the third line for the second straight game. Chrisitian Djoos was rotating with Madison Bowey alongside Taylor Chorney during the skate. Trotz confirmed before anybody asked that Djoos will play tonight after missing the last six games with an upper-body injury.

Trotz walks up to the podium. Before anyone can ask, “Yes, he’s cleared and will play.” So, Djoos is in.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 30, 2017

WAIVER WIRE
Just one day after Aaron Ness cleared waivers to be sent down to Hershey, the Capitals placed Nathan Walker on waivers this morning with the intent of sending him down to Hershey if he clears. Walker has only appeared in one of the Capitals last nine games and just seven all year, while serving much of the season as a healthy scratch. Trotz explained to the media why Walker was waived.

Barry Trotz explains why Nathan Walker was waived by the #Caps today. pic.twitter.com/nFLKR38qRs

— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikNBCS) November 30, 2017

CAPS RED LINE

Good morning, @captials fans! It’s been a long 5 days, but the Caps are back in action tonight at 7 pm on @NBCSWashington.#CapsKings #CapsRedLine:
– Magic No. 3️⃣
– PP/PK Stats 📈
– 🔑 to victory

+ @tom_wilso and a pup in the #CapsCanine Calendar
Buy: https://t.co/nxbwTr6DjE pic.twitter.com/NojZ1DofHc

— MonumentalSportsNet (@MonSportsNet) November 30, 2017

SHAVINGS

• Tonight’s game is the first of two meetings between the Capitals and Kings this season.
• The Capitals are 3-1-1 in their last five home games against the Kings, have earned a point in their last four, and won three straight at home against Los Angeles.
• Alex Ovechkin recorded a hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 25. That marked his third hat trick of the season and his 20th of his career, passing Peter Bondra for the most career hat tricks in franchise history.
• Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin were reunited as linemates for the last three games. In that stretch, Ovechkin has five goals with Backstrom recording an assist on four of those five.
• Backstrom has recorded four assists in his last three games.
• Per Elias Sports Bureau, the Capitals are 7-1-0 in the month of November and are one home win shy of posting the second-most home wins in a calendar month in team history.
• Jakub Vrana has recorded four points in his last four games (2 goals, 2 assists), marking the first time he has collected four points in a four game stretch in his career.
• Dmitry Orlov has recorded three points in his last five games.

CAPITALS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Watch: @NHLNetwork on the @Capitals 2018 #CapsCanineCalendar – view behind the scenes video and images from the calendar and purchase online via @MSEFndn at https://t.co/OjpU6SFEt3. All proceeds benefit @HomewardTrails. pic.twitter.com/UlVtZPmcBS

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 29, 2017

The @Capitals took time to brighten the day for some patients at @MedStarGUH during their annual hospital visit 🏥💕 pic.twitter.com/ICmwYhTzDx

— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) November 30, 2017

No surprise, Holts in 🥅 tonight. #CapsKings pic.twitter.com/m5UV8JAz6w

— #CapsFightCancer (@Capitals) November 30, 2017

Jay Beagle putting in some extra skills work ahead of #CapsKings. #Caps pic.twitter.com/yyKOVPYaEK

— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikNBCS) November 30, 2017

By Michael Marzzacco
Follow @marswaggo

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NoVa Caps (@nova_caps)