Photo: @Capitals
The day has arrived! The Washington Capitals will square off with the Tampa Bay Lightning with a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals on the line. Whoever gets to four wins first gets to skate around with or not touch, the Prince of Wales Trophy. It all begins Friday night with puck drop at 8 p.m. On Friday morning at Amalie Arena, the team held a morning skate. Based on line rushes, here’s how the lineup should look tonight.
Ovechkin kicked off the morning skate with another hot lap around the rink as his teammates cheered and tapped their sticks. It’s officially a thing now. #Caps
— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) May 11, 2018
CAPITALS LINES
Here’s the projected lineup for tonight, based on the morning rushes:
Forwards
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Eller-Oshie
Connolly-Stephenson-Burakovsky
Smith Pelly-Beagle-Chiasson
Defense
Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Djoos
Starting goalie: Braden Holtby
NOTES
Nicklas Backstrom (right hand injury) wasn’t on the ice for morning skate. Andre Burakovsky was on the ice taking rushes on the third line with Chandler Stephenson and Brett Connolly. He looks ready to go after missing the last 10 games with an upper-body injury (video via Tarik-El Bashir of NBC Sports Washington). Burakovsky told the media that he needs to check with trainers and needs further clearance with the medical staff before playing in Game 1. Barry Trotz said that both Backstrom and Burakovsky will be game time decisions.
Burakovsky is indeed good to go. #Caps #CapsBolts pic.twitter.com/aEb9POOyAE
— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) May 11, 2018
Stephenson was centering that third line. Lars Eller once again remains in Backstrom’s place on the second line. Tom Wilson will make his return from his three-game suspension tonight and will be back in his familiar spot on the top line.
An Eastern Conference Final Morning Skate. #ALLCAPSpic.twitter.com/piwyBkHd7z
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 11, 2018
SPECIAL TEAMS
Burakovsky worked on the second power play unit. Eller remained on the top power play unit with Backstrom out.
Burakovsky also working with second PP unit.
Eller remains in Backstrom’s spot on the top PP unit.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 11, 2018
By Michael Marzzacco
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