Goaltender Braden Holtby was on the ice after leaving in the second period of the Washington Capitals’ 2-1 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets last night with an eye injury. He said his vision wasn’t good enough to come back last night but he wasn’t limited in practice today. Capitals head coach Todd Reirden said he wasn’t sure if Holtby will play tomorrow night against the St. Louis Blues (7 PM puck drop on NBC Sports Washington) since the team plays a set of back-to-back games and play in one of the toughest buildings in the league the next night in Bridgestone Arena, home of the Nashville Predators (8 PM puck drop on NBC Sports Washington). 

Braden Holtby update on his eye injury sustained last night vs Columbus #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/Dis8BtlR7q

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 13, 2019

Reirden said the Capitals won’t make another call up prior to their game against the Blues. He wants to see how Holtby is with sweat in his eye from practice but it looks like he will be well enough to dress tomorrow night, even though he might not play anyway.

Holtby said his vision wasn’t good enough for him to play last night, but has improved a lot and continues to progress. https://t.co/bTtQLMJKNm

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) January 13, 2019

Goaltender Pheonix Copley, who will likely start vs. the Blues, was hit by a puck but stayed on the ice.

Now Copley takes a shot in a bad spot. He’s smarting, but staying on the ice for now.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 13, 2019

Center Lars Eller took a maintenance day due to an upper-body injury.

Maintenance day for Eller, upper body

— JJ Regan (@JJReganNBCS) January 13, 2019

Defenseman Christian Djoos, who has missed the past 14 games after undergoing thigh surgery on December 14, skated before practice.

Maintenance day for Eller, upper body

— JJ Regan (@JJReganNBCS) January 13, 2019

The Capitals will hold an optional morning skate prior to their game vs. the Blues on Monday.

#Caps will hold an optional morning skate on Monday at @MedStarIceplex at 10:15 am prior to hosting St. Louis. Participating players and head coach Todd Reirden will be available to the media following the skate.

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 13, 2019

Capitals Today

CAPS TODAY: Evgeny Kuznetsov’s goal with the goaltender pulled ensured the Capitals would earn points in 17 of their last 18 games against Eastern Conference opponents. More info on https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/OwcnvHFJ0v

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 13, 2019

By Harrison Brown