News and Notes from Monday’s Capitals Practice: T.J. Oshie is on What Line?

Posted on January 8, 2018 by

After a thrilling overtime win over the Blues on Sunday, the Capitals hit the ice on Monday morning for practice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Head coach Barry Trotz shook up the lines yesterday and the new combinations worked as the Capitals rallied from a 2-1 deficit. Washington has three games in the next four nights beginning tomorrow as they’ll host the Canucks. Here are the news and notes from Monday morning. 

LINES

Ovechkin-Backstrom-DSP
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Connolly-Eller-Oshie
Stephenson-Beagle-Chaisson
Dojos-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Bowey

NEWS
T.J. Oshie came onto the ice sporting a white jersey (bottom six forward jersey). During the second period on Sunday with the Capitals trailing the Blues 2-1, Trotz shook up the lines moving Oshie down from the first line to the third line. Trotz also placed Devante Smith-Pelly back on the top line. The strategy worked as Oshie helped create a scoring chance for Lars Eller in the third period, shifting the momentum towards the Caps favor.

Oshie was taking rushes on the third line with Eller and Brett Connolly. Smith-Pelly remained on the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.

Andre Burakovsky was wearing a red jersey (top six forward). After serving as a healthy scratch the last two games, Burakovsky was on the fourth line for Sunday’s game. During Monday’s practice, Burakovsky was rotating with Jakub Vrana on the second line. One of those players could be scratched for tomorrow’s game. Chandler Stephenson was back on the fourth line after being a healthy scratch in Sunday’s game.

Vrana committed a penalty during one of the drills and had to drop down and do push-ups.

Smith-Pelly had some fun with the Capitals Twitter account, videobombing their video of the defensemen feeding Backstrom for one-timers.

At the tail end of practice, Ovechkin changed into his game uniform to shoot a commercial for CCM. Back in October, he signed a multi-year agreement with the hockey equipment manufacturer.

SHAVINGS

  • Ovechkin recorded a primary assist on Brett Connolly’s goal in the first period in Sunday’s game against the Blues and now sits just five assists away from 500 career assists.
  • John Carlson recorded two assists in Sunday’s game. With 29 assists so far, Carlson is ranked second in assists among defensemen in the NHL.
  • Madison Bowey recorded an assist on Sunday, his ninth of the season, which is tied for the fourth-most among NHL rookie defensemen.

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By Michael Marzzacco

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2 Responses to News and Notes from Monday’s Capitals Practice: T.J. Oshie is on What Line?

  1. Pingback: News and Notes from Tuesday’s Capitals Morning Skate: Who’s in Goal? Who’s In/Out on the Fourth Line? | NoVa Caps

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