Goaltender Pheonix Copley, who is 10-2-3 with a save percentage of .916, a goals-against average of 2.56, and one shutout this season, will start against his former team for the first time when the Washington Capitals host the St. Louis Blues at Capital One Arena at 7 PM tonight (can be seen on NBC Sports Washington).
Copley was sent to St. Louis in the trade that sent forward T.J. Oshie to Washington on July 2, 2015, and was re-acquired by the Capitals in the trade that brought defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk to the nation’s capital on February 27, 2017. In two career games for the Blues, Copley went 0-1-0 with a save percentage of .831 and a goals-against average of 3.78. He made 42 saves in a 4-0 shutout over the Blues in the preseason back on September 25. Goaltender Braden Holtby will start at the Nashville Predators (8 PM on NBC Sports Washington) tomorrow night.
Pheonix Copley will start in goal for Capitals vs. Blues.
Braden Holtby will serve as his backup.
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) January 14, 2019
Forward Andre Burakovsky, who has been a healthy scratch for the past two games, and defenseman Madison Bowey, who has also been a healthy scratch for the past five games, will each draw back into the lineup against the Blues tonight. Center Nic Dowd and defenseman Jonas Seigenthaler will each draw out of the lineup in favor of Burakovsky and Bowey, respectively.
Pheonix Copley is starting tonight. Looks like Burakovsky and Bowey are both getting back in.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 14, 2019
After getting a maintenance day yesterday due to an upper-body injury, center Lars Eller was on the ice this morning.
Lars Eller is on the ice for the optional morning skate. Had a maintenance day yesterday. Looks like Ovechkin is going to participate in this optional, too.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 14, 2019
Goaltender Jordan Birmingham will likely play backup tonight for the Blues. He and Copley got into a fight last season when Binnington was with the Providence Bruins.
It’ll be @PheonixCopley for the #ALLCAPS in goal. Could face his buddy and former teammate @binnnasty for St. Louis tonight. The two rookie goalies dropped the gloves in @TheAHL last year as @TheHersheyBears hosted @AHLBruins. Not many punches thrown in this one! 😎 pic.twitter.com/va5EgoEJ5l
— Zack Fisch (@zackfisch) January 14, 2019
Capitals Today
CAPS TODAY: Brooks Orpik is expected to suit up for his 1,000th NHL game tonight. He’ll be the 330th all-time player, 114th defenseman and 22nd active player to play in 1,000 NHL games. More info on Orpik at https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/UbnEhMteoN
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 14, 2019
By Harrison Brown
