The Washington Capitals held a morning skate at MedStar Capitals Iceplex prior to their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight at Capital One Arena. NBC Sports Washington will have the coverage, which will start at 7 PM. Here is all of the news leading up to puck drop:
Defenseman John Carlson will miss tonight’s game against the Blue Jackets with a lower-body injury. With Carlson out, the Capitals recalled defensemen Jonas Siegenthaler and Aaron Ness from the AHL’s Hershey Bears on Friday morning. Both skated at MedStar prior to the morning skate. Siegenthaler, 21, will make his NHL debut against the Blue Jackets. He got the call after an impressive training camp in Washington in September but has struggled in Hershey, posting two assists and a -2 rating in 14 games this season. Ness, 28, was called up because the Capitals placed defenseman Brooks Orpik on long-term injured reserve, meaning he will be required to miss at least six more games. The earliest possible return for the 38-year old defenseman will be on November 21 against the Chicago Blackhawks, when forward Tom Wilson will be eligible to return supposing his 20-game suspension is upheld after appealing to a neutral arbitrator on October 31.
With Carlson out of the lineup, the Capitals will dress this lineup on defense against the Blue Jackets:
Capitals pairs without Carlson
Kempny-Niskanen
Orkov-Djoos
Siegenthaler-Bowey— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) November 9, 2018
Defenseman Matt Niskanen took Carlson’s place on the first power play unit while defenseman Christian Djoos drew into Niskanen’s spot on the second unit.
Niskanen takes Carlson’s spot on PP1. Djoos and Orlov on PP2.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 9, 2018
After the morning skate, Capitals head coach Todd Reirden was hopeful that Carlson will return to the lineup on Sunday against the Arizona Coyotes. He declined to comment when asked on when and how the injury occurred.
Reirden said he’s hopeful John Carlson will be back for next game.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 9, 2018
Defenseman Michal Kempny also responded to the firing of John Quenneville by the Blackhawks earlier this week. The Blackhawks signed Kempny, 27, out of the Czech league and he tallied two goals and 15 points in 81 games over two seasons with the team. Kempny’s +13 rating at the time of the trade led all Chicago skaters.
Michal Kempny on Joel Quenneville’s firing: “I was a bit surprised. I don’t’really know what’s going on in Chicago right now. The new coach is hopefully going to help them.”#Capitals #Blackhawks
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) November 9, 2018
Capitals Lines vs. Blue Jackets
Caps lineup vs. CBJ:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Jaskin
Stephenson-Backstrom-Oshie
Vrana-Eller-Connolly
Burakovsky-Boyd-DSPKempny-Niskanen
Orlov-Djoos
Siegenthaler-Bowey— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 9, 2018
Shavings
-In 21 career games against Columbus, goaltender Braden Holtby is 14-4-2 with a save percentage of .914, a goals-against average of 2.62, and one shutout
-Center Evgeny Kuznetsov is two assists shy of 200 in his career
-Forward Alex Ovechkin is two power-play goals shy of passing Mario Lemieux (236) for seventh place on the NHL power-play goals list
-The Capitals are 23-8-5 all-time against the Blue Jackets, including 12-2-3 at home
-Capitals have won 12 of their last 14 games against the Blue Jackets and have won five of their last six games against Columbus at Capital One Arena
-The Capitals are 5-1-2 at home this season and have been scoring on NHL-best 41.9% of their power play opportunities at Capital One Arena (13 goals on 31 opportunities); since the 2014-15 season, the Capitals have a record of 117-40-15 at home, ranking first in the NHL both wins and points (249); during that span, the Capitals’ 548 goals for ranks fourth, while their 376 goals against rank first
Capitals Today
CAPS TODAY: Braden Holtby recorded a season-high 41 saves against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. He and the Caps take on the Blue Jackets tonight on Hockey Fights Cancer night at Capital One Arena. More info on https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/SHee87Gnmx
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 9, 2018
Game Notes
GAME NOTES: The Caps have a Friday night showdown with the Columbus Blue Jackets tomorrow night at Capital One Arena. https://t.co/o30sOyXfDp pic.twitter.com/Fs7PUjTVOr
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 8, 2018
By Harrison Brown
This was alarming. Waking up seeing Carlson day to day nobody knows how or why and Orpik LTIR so hes gotta miss 6 more games, so he cant return til Willy returns.
Defense all of a sudden looking spotty with all these young kids. Djoos&Bowey have been acceptable but now Ness&Seigenthaler for atleast tonight. And 1 of em until Orpik returns.
Young d better step up.
Caught me off guard as well. Something deep down inside me says there is more to this, whether Caps just want to give Jonas a game or two, or who knows what. We will see.
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