The Washington Capitals practiced at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Saturday in preparations for their game against the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday. Puck drop from Capital One Arena is slated for 5 PM and will be telecasted on NBC Sports Washington. Here are all of the news from Saturday’s Capitals practice: 

Center Evgeny Kuznetsov missed practice because of family reasons but is expected to suit up against Arizona tomorrow. With Kuznetsov missing, the Capitals used a top line featuring forwards T.J. Oshie, Alex Ovechkin, and Nicklas Backstrom, who mainly skated together for most of the Capitals run to back-to-back Presidents’ Trophy titles in 2016 and 2017. Capitals head coach Todd Reirden wouldn’t commit to line combinations for tomorrow.

Caps coach Todd Reirden said he expects Evgeny Kuznetsov to play vs. Coyotes Sunday after he was excused from practice today for a family matter.

Reirden said they’ll wait to see how Carlson feels tomorrow after practicing today before deciding if he’ll play, but they’re hopeful.

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) November 10, 2018

Defenseman John Carlson participated in practice but he told reporters that he wasn’t sure whether or not he will be available​ against the Coyotes. Reirden said that he will see how he feels tomorrow before deciding on his status but was hopeful he will be good to go by gametime.

Carlson said he doesn’t know if he’ll play tomorrow.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 10, 2018

The Capitals spent a lot of time on the penalty kill after surrendering both goals on the penalty kill in the team’s 2-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets last night.

The purpose, of course, is to have guys like Oshie, Backstrom, Carlson and Eller working on the PK. They’re usually practicing PP in these practices.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 10, 2018

Even with Carlson back, Reirden mixed up his defensive pairs:

D pairs at practice:

Orlov-Carlson
Kempny-Niskanen
Djoos-Bowey
Siegenthaler-Ness (extra pair)

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) November 10, 2018

After practice, the team held their annual “Hockey Fights Cancer” Skate. The team had their annual “Hockey Fights Cancer” night against the Blue Jackets last night.

T.J. Oshie (Lars Eller in background) #HockeyFightsCancer skate pic.twitter.com/dOPvmIHjKI

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) November 10, 2018

Amazing moment! Every player came on the ice and was matched up with a @WishMidAtlantic kid waiting for them to go for a twirl. #CapsFightCancer #ALLCAPS https://t.co/D5J3W1gpLc pic.twitter.com/GBN5u3Ik2F

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 10, 2018

Alex Ovechkin at the Capitals #HockeyFightsCancer skate today with children from Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic pic.twitter.com/yHeliDu0Z5

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) November 10, 2018

Capitals Lines

Capitals today without Kuznetsov and with Carlson.

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Stephenson-Boyd-Vrana
Connolly-Eller-DSP
Burakovsky-Dowd-Jaskin

Kempny-Niskanen
Orlov-Carlson
Djoos-Bowey

Siegenthaler-Ness

Holtby
Copley

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) November 10, 2018

Capitals Today

CAPS TODAY: Jonas Siegenthaler made his NHL debut last night against the Columbus Blue Jackets, registering 12:13 minutes of ice time. More info on Siegenthaler and the Capitals can be found on https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/7PSWAsG1lo

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 10, 2018

By Harrison Brown