With Game 1 between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins beginning on Thursday night, both teams practiced on Wednesday morning. A pair of players from each team weren’t skating. Here’s a double-duty update as we not only update you on T.J. Oshie and Andre Burakvosky but additionally go behind enemy lines and give an update on Evgeni Malkin and Carl Hagelin.
T.J. OSHIE
As reported in our practice report, Oshie wasn’t at practice Wednesday and has missed practices and morning skates since Game 3’s morning skate last round in Columbus. Barry Trotz said after practice that Oshie will still play in Game 1.
T.J Oshie will play tomorrow, Barry Trotz says. Just doing what he needs to do to stay on the ice for game days.
— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) April 25, 2018
ANDRE BURAKOVSKY
Burakovsky left Game 2 of the Capitals first round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets after he was hit into the boards by Boone Jenner. He didn’t travel with the team to Games 3 and 4 of that series and Trotz said he was out for the remainder of that series.
With that series over and a new series set to begin, people were wondering if Burakovsky would be ready. Burakovsky wasn’t on the ice in Wednesday’s practice and Trotz told the media that his status is week-to-week but isn’t ruled out for the series.
Andre Burakovsky “is week to week” but will start skating fairly quickly, Barry Trotz says. Not ruled out for series.
— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) April 25, 2018
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Evgeni Malkin
Malkin is nursing a lower-body injury. He missed Game 6 of the Penguins first round series against the Flyers and hasn’t practiced since.
Carl Hagelin
Hagelin left Game 6 after a hard hit from Claude Giroux.
Neither player was at practice on Wednesday.
#Pens practice is underway. No Evgeni Malkin or Carl Hagelin.
— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) April 25, 2018
Per Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, Malkin will travel with the team to Washington later today. Hagelin will not. Malkin won’t play in Game 1 but there’s a possibility he could play in Game 2.
Sullivan: Malkin will travel to Washington; Hagelin will not. They will each be out tomorrow. #Pens
— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) April 25, 2018
By Michael Marzzacco
Follow @marswaggo
