Washington Capitals Training Camp Day 4 Roundup: Eller and Carlson Return and Sergei Shumakov Participates

The Washington Capitals were back on the ice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Virginia after dropping their preseason opener in Boston by a 2-1 final in a shootout on Sunday afternoon. The two teams are back at it tomorrow as the Bruins follow the Capitals home for a Tuesday night rematch. Puck drop is at 7 PM on NBC Sports Washington. Here is all of the news from day four of Capitals’ training camp:

Center Lars Eller and defenseman John Carlson took the ice after missing the first three days of camp with a lower-body injury. Eller skated with the second group while Carlson was on the ice for the third.

Eller going out to skate with second practice group today. (lower body)

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) September 17, 2018

John Carlson (lower body) heading out onto the ice to practice with the third Capitals group today. First time practicing in camp for him.

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) September 17, 2018

Eller said he just needed some rehab for his lower-body injuries and that he feels 100%. He also discussed his Stanley Cup-clinching goal from last season with reporters.

Eller said his lower-body injury was “just something that needed a week of rehab and now it doesn’t bother me anymore. I feel 100 percent. It was caused by myself, sort of.”

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) September 17, 2018

So, Lars Eller, how often have you watched your Stanley Cup-winning goal?

Eller: “I don’t have a number on it. But I’ll keep watching it. If I’m in a bad mood, I’ll put it on.”

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) September 17, 2018

Forward Sergei Shumakov also participated in Capitals’ training camp for the first time. The 26-year old missed the first few days of camp dealing with visa issues and trying to get to Washington from his native country of Russia. The team signed Shumakov to a one-year contract out of the KHL on September 1. He was skating on a line with Shane Gersich and center Travis Boyd during the first group’s practice.

Capitals’ Group One Lines:

These appear to be the lines and D pairs in the first Caps group today:

Ovechkin–Kunzetsov–Wilson
Gersich–Boyd–Shumakov
Jonsson-Fjallby–Sgarbossa–DSP
Gustafsson–Malenstyn–Barber

Johansen-Niskanen
Orpik-Bowey
Alexeyev-Hobbs

Holtby
Samsonov

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) September 17, 2018

Capitals’ Group Two Lines:

Second practice group for Caps:

Vrana-Backstrom-Oshie
Burakovsky-Eller-Connolly
Kammerer-Dowd-Ikonen
O’Brien-Megna-Sutter

Orlov–Williams
Ness–Djoos
Bindulis–Kannok-Leipert

Milner
Morrison

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) September 17, 2018

Capitals’ Group Three Lines:

Capitals third practice group:

Stephenson-Pinho-Walker
Simpson-Marthinsen-Florchuk
Mitchell-Pilon-Besse/Clark

Kempny-Carlson
Siegenthaler-Lewington
Geisser-Fehervary

Copley
Vanecek

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) September 17, 2018

The ice sheet at Capital One Arena was also implemented on Tuesday.

So, so beautiful.#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/ji3z0nZysr

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 17, 2018

During his press conference, Capitals’ head coach Todd Reirden told reporters Hershey Bears‘ forward Mathias Bau, who has yet to participate in training camp, is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and that the first round of roster cuts will likely come on Wednesday. He also said that Shumakov is not ready for preseason action yet.

Forward Mathias Bau, who has yet to practice in training camp, is dealing with an upper-body injury.

Reirden said he’s day to day. Might know more in soon.

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) September 17, 2018

As for tomorrow’s preseason game against the Bruins, Braden Holtby will start in goal with Samsonov as his backup. The Capitals’ first line will consist of T.J. Oshie, Nicklas Backstrom, and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby. The rest of the lineup will be announced later but captain Alex Ovechkin will not suit up against Boston on Tuesday.

Todd Reirden said Caps top line will be Jonsson-Fjallby with Backstrom and Oshie tomorrow.

Rest of lineup maybe announced later, but that means Ovechkin won’t play.

Bet on him playing vs. Montreal in Quebec City on Thursday.

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) September 17, 2018

Reirden said the Capitals will make their first round of roster cuts on Wednesday when the Capitals will have their first day off.