Photo: @Capitals

The Capitals took the ice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex for the team’s final practice of 2017. Washington will head into the New Year sitting in first place in the Metropolitan Division following their big 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils. Was Andre Burakovsky inserted back into the lineup? And where was Matt Niskanen? Find out on this New Years Eve edition of the news and the notes from practice. 

LINES

Ovechkin-Backstrom-DSP
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Connolly-Eller-Wilson
Stephenson-Beagle-Chiasson/Burakovsky
Orlov-Chorney
Djoos-Carlson
Orpik-Bowey

NEWS
Matt Niskanen didn’t practice on Sunday. According to the team, he’s taking a maintenance day. Taylor Chorney took Niskanen’s spot on the top defensive pairing. There were no changes to the forward lines at practice. Andre Burakovsky, who was a healthy scratch yesterday, was one of three wingers on the fourth line.

Looks like Burakovsky might have to wait to get back into the #Caps’ lineup. He’s currently on a four-man fourth line with Beagle, Chiasson and Stephenson.

— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) December 31, 2017

Burakovsky is well aware of his slump that’s been going on and wants to get his confidence back. Since his two-goal night at Dallas, Burakovsky went the next four games without recording a point.

“He wants me to be a little bit more hungry on pucks [and] I agree.” —Andre Burakovsky, opening up about being scratched vs. the Devils. pic.twitter.com/8WxPeC4Tbu

— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) December 31, 2017

SANTA?! I KNOW HIM!
After a busy night just one week ago delivering gifts all around the world, Kris Kringle (a.k. Santa Claus) flew in his sleigh from the North Pole to Kettler to check out the Capitals practice. Who knew Santa likes to play goalie?

There is a Santa Goalie at #Caps practice. That’s all I got. pic.twitter.com/xpqpWa5Eg6

— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) December 31, 2017

🎅 !!#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/YDlMpNXNed

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 31, 2017

SHAVINGS

• Christian Djoos recorded a goal and an assist in the Capitals 5-2 win over the Devils last night. Djoos’ goal was his third of the season, tied for third among NHL rookie defensemen.
• Both Djoos and Madison Bowey have recorded eight points on the year. Each are tied for fifth among rookie defensemen.

• Djoos and Bowey are on pace to become the first pair of rookie Capitals defensemen to appear in at least 50 regular season games since the 1980-81 season (Howard Walker: 64, Darren Veitch: 59, James McTaggart: 52).

CAPITALS TODAY

CAPS TODAY: Christian Djoos and Madison Bowey are on pace to become the first Capitals rookie defensemen to play in 60 games since the 1980-81 season. https://t.co/rahnFrvfye pic.twitter.com/6pcMRv0T6J

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 31, 2017

CAPITALS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

.@JoeBpXp give us his take on the #Caps big win over the #Devils – catapulting them to first in the Metro.

➡️ @magnoliahvac pic.twitter.com/p2xbfyQqv9 — NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) December 31, 2017

This is crazy.. #Caps score an absolutely beautiful goal.. Brilliant passing from Ovi to DSP to Niskanen.. But they had 6 – count them 6 – players in the offensive zone! pic.twitter.com/Paojpj103p

— Rob Carlin (@RobCarlinNBCS) December 31, 2017

Here are your first place #Caps, practicing on New Year’s Eve. pic.twitter.com/eJmRe8BuPY

— JJ Regan (@JJReganNBCS) December 31, 2017

After practice ended, Taylor Chorney took his son Turner around the ice.

#Caps defenseman Taylor Chorney takes son Turner for post-practice twirl. pic.twitter.com/8JAfWlFRt9

— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) December 31, 2017

By Michael Marzzacco
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