The Capitals return home on Saturday night to host the Anaheim Ducks after a 5-3 win over the Bruins in Boston on Thursday. The Capitals begin a stretch where they play four straight games against Western Conference foes and play their last home game before playing four straight on the road. 

T.J. Oshie Status
Oshie participated in the morning skate, still wearing a green no-contact jersey. He will not play against the Ducks tonight. The next opportunity for him to practice is when the Capitals practice Monday before heading out to Dallas to start their road trip. Oshie has been out since taking a hit to the head from Sharks’ center Joe Thornton on December 4.

Oshie, btw, is on the ice. But he’s still wearing a non-contact jersey and has already been ruled out tonight. #Caps #CapsDucks

— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒🥅 (@TarikNBCS) December 16, 2017

Injury Status
Brooks Orpik will suit up against Anaheim after missing practice yesterday with an upper-body injury, sustained against Boston on Thursday. He’ll be a game-time decision but skated alongside John Carlson today. Coach Barry Trotz said he was looking good today.

Orpik took a rush with Carlson, which is a signal that he’ll suit up vs. the #Ducks. We’ll confirm with Trotz afterward. #Caps

— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒🥅 (@TarikNBCS) December 16, 2017

Trotz said Orpik is a “game-time” decision, but then said he’s “looking good” to play.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 16, 2017

Capitals’ Lines vs. Ducks

Caps lines this morning (vs. ANA tonight):
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Chiasson
Connolly-Eller-Burakovsky
Stephenson-Beagle-DSP

Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Carlson
Djoos-Bowey

Chorney paired with Oshie (in green).

Holtby
Grubauer

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) December 16, 2017

Shavings

–Braden Holtby will start against Anaheim. He is 18-7-0 with a .918 save percentage and a 2.66 goals against average this season. Lifetime against the Ducks, he is 2-1-0 with an .878 save percentage and a 3.25 goals against average.

–Jakub Vrana is the first Capitals rookie to hit the 10 goal plateau since 2014-15 (Evgeny Kuznetsov – 11). He has goals in consecutive games.

–Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov share the Capitals’ scoring lead with 35 points each. Kuznetsov tallied 4 assists in his past two games and Ovechkin scored his league-leading 22nd goal of the season Thursday against Boston.

-The Capitals have scored four or more goals in five straight home games, going 5-0-0 in that stretch

-The Capitals’ 13 home wins are tied for first in the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning

-In the Capitals’ past four games, 16 of the 18 Capitals who have played have recorded a point. In total, 13 of the 16 players have recorded at least two points in the last four games.

Capitals Today:

CAPS TODAY: Jakub Vrana, who is riding a two-game goal scoring streak, became the first Capitals rookie to reach the 10 goal mark since Evgeny Kuznetsov scored 11 in the 2014-15 season. He and the Caps take on the Anaheim Ducks tonight at 8 p.m. https://t.co/m7W5hFq3rf pic.twitter.com/GkwTKBGnkr

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 16, 2017

Capitals-Ducks Game Notes:

GAME NOTES: The Capitals, currently on a five-game home winning streak, host the Anaheim Ducks tomorrow at 8 p.m. https://t.co/LoDkBA90ta pic.twitter.com/rLmz7AtEk4

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 15, 2017

Capitals on Social Media:

T.J Oshie not quite ready to play yet. But last man off the ice signing autographs/taking pictures with young fans after morning skate. pic.twitter.com/r66RTfhjsr

— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) December 16, 2017

It’s a #Caps Gameday! The Ducks are in town for the only time this season as Washington plays their final home game before the Christmas break. Puck drop at 8 p.m. on @NBCSWashington.#CapsDucks Preview: https://t.co/bA6kSqw18s#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/r0oNkdf9Nq

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 16, 2017

We might need to place a couple snow globes behind the goals at #CapsDucks tonight – @CStephenson22 out here sniping! (Priceless reaction from @CourtneyNBCS).

Get ready for #CapsDucks at 8:00 pm on @NBCSWasington with #CapsRedLine! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/UYZNYyfX5k

— MonumentalSportsNet (@MonSportsNet) December 16, 2017

By Harrison Brown