Photo: @Capitals

The Washington Capitals held a morning skate at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio in preparations for their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight. The game will be televised on NBC Sports Washington starting at 7 PM. Here are all of the news leading up to the game: 

Forward Tom Wilson was not on the ice and will miss a second straight game with a possible concussion. Wilson, 24, missed Thursday’s 4-2 win at the Arizona Coyotes after getting hit high in the shoulder by Vegas Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves in Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the Golden Knights. He has posted eight goals and 14 points and 11 games this season.

Caps morning skate has started. Tom Wilson is not on the ice. Will miss a second straight game.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 8, 2018

Capitals head coach Todd Reirden said that there are more players in addition to Wilson who could miss tonight’s game despite a full attendance minus Wilson at the morning skate, which is why forward Riley Barber was recalled from the AHL’s Hershey Bears yesterday.

Reirden said Caps have more than one guy who’s questionable for tonight, which is why Riley Barber is here. Sounds like a couple players might be a little under the weather. Other than Wilson, full attendance at morning skate.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 8, 2018

Capitals Lines at Blue Jackets

Caps morning skate lines:

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

Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Siegenthaler-Bowey

Holtby starts

Barber and Djoos are the extras.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 8, 2018

Defenseman Christian Djoos will draw out of the lineup in favor of Madison Bowey. Goaltender Braden Holtby will get the start in net.

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News From The Other Side

Bobrovsky to start for #CBJ vs #ALLCAPS tonight.

Duclair and Bjorkstrand both in, Sedlak out. Bjorkstrand on the fourth line. Duclair on the right with Dubinsky and Wennberg.

Defense pairings shaken up too:

Murray-Jones
Nutivaara-Savard
Werenski-Harrington

— Brian Hedger (@BrianHedger) December 8, 2018

Shavings

-captain Alex Ovechkin enters Saturday’s game one power-play goal shy of passing Mario Lemieux (236) for seventh place on the NHL power-play goals list.

-Forward Jakub Vrana’s nine goals at even strength are second on the team behind Ovechkin’s 13; he has three goals in his past two games

-The Capitals are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and have recorded at least three goals in 10 straight games for the first time since Feb. 7 through Feb. 26, 2016

-Forward Devante Smith-Pelly is one point shy of 100 career points entering tonight

-The Capitals and the Blue Jackets enter tonight’s game separated by a point for top spot in the Metropolitan Division with both teams playing 28 games

-Ovechkin has recorded a point in 10 straight games (nine goals, 14 points), the longest streak by a Capital this season

-Among Capitals with at least 12 games played this season, center Travis Boyd leads the team in points per 60 minutes of five-on-five play (3.29), primary assists (2.74) and points (3.29); Boyd’s 2.74 primary assists per 60 minutes of five-on-five play rank second in the NHL among players with at least 12 games played (Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner: 2.74 primary assists per 60 minutes of five-on-five play)

-Capitals defensemen have combined for 54 points at even strength this season, tied for the fifth most in the NHL

Capitals Today

CAPS TODAY: Jakub Vrana’s nine goals in 28 games this season are tied for third most on the Capitals and his five first-period goals lead the team. More info on Vrana and the Caps at https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/2uG6pn4pbA

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 8, 2018

Game Notes

GAME NOTES: The Capitals visit the Columbus Blue Jackets for the first time since Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal, when the Capitals beat the Blue Jackets 6-3 in the game and 4-2 in the series en route to the Stanley Cup. https://t.co/97bfZNr2sC pic.twitter.com/qqCB6gdHXL

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 8, 2018

By Harrison Brown

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