Photo: @Capitals

The Washington Capitals practiced at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec on Sunday morning in preparations for their game against the Canadiens tomorrow night. Puck drop from Bell Centre will be at 7:30 PM on NBC Sports Washington. Here are all of the news from Sunday’s practice: 

Goaltender Braden Holtby practiced for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury prior to the team’s 3-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday. Goaltender Pheonix Copley has started the past three games and Ilya Samsonov is still up from Hershey. Head coach Todd Reirden said it is possible that Holtby, 29, could return against the Canadiens.

Capitals coach Todd Reirden said it’s possible Braden Holtby will start in goal vs. Canadiens tomorrow night.

All depends on how Holtby responds following today’s practice.

— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) November 18, 2018

Reirden also said that he is unsure how close defenseman Brooks Orpik, who is on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body injury, is to returning. Orpik, 38, has been skating in Washington while the team has been on their four-game road trip. He has not played since a 4-3 shootout victory on October 27 against the Calgary Flames. Orpik is eligible to return on Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik has been skating in DC but it’s unclear how close he is to returning. Eligible to come off LTIR on Wednesday vs. Blackhawks.

— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) November 18, 2018

Capitals forwards T.J. Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov, who are each day-to-day with upper-body injuries, were in the building while the Capitals were practicing but did not participate. Reirden said both players have made progress but their status against the Canadiens is unclear.

Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik has been skating in DC but it’s unclear how close he is to returning. Eligible to come off LTIR on Wednesday vs. Blackhawks.

— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) November 18, 2018

Forward Devante Smith-Pelly took a puck to the head during practice but stayed out on the ice.

Devante Smith-Pelly just took a puck off the side of his head during practice.

He’s staying out there. #ALLCAPS

— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) November 18, 2018

Shavings

-The Capitals are 8-1-1 in their previous nine games at Bell Centre

-Captain Alex Ovechkin has recorded 29 goals and 49 points in 46 career games against the Canadiens

-Holtby is 11-2-2 with a save percentage of .938, a goals-against average of 1.79, and two shutouts in his career against Montreal

-Center Nicklas Backstrom enters Monday’s game at the Canadiens three goals and nine points in his past eight games

-The Capitals have four players who average at least a point-per-game this season (Backstrom – 22 in 19, Kuznetsov – 21 in 18, Ovechkin – 21 in 19, and defenseman John Carlson – 19 in 18)

-The Capitals have four players who average at least 10 power-play points (Backstrom – 12, Kuznetsov – 11, Carlson – 11, Ovechkin – 10)

#Caps head coach Todd Reirden talks with the media with injury updates and thoughts from the quarter mark of the 2018-19 season. #ALLCAPS #CapsHabs pic.twitter.com/EH1HCdnIlB

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 18, 2018

Capitals Today

CAPS TODAY: Nicklas Backstrom’s overtime winner against Colorado marked his eighth career overtime goal, tying Mike Green for second place in franchise history. More information on Backstrom and the Capitals at https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/dSkOsPOmCJ

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 18, 2018

By Harrison Brown