Defenseman Christian Djoos, who has missed the past 18 games after undergoing thigh surgery on December 14, practiced with his teammates for the first time but wore a light blue no-contact jersey at the Washington Capitals‘ morning skate prior to their game against the San Jose Sharks at Capital One Arena on Tuesday night (7 PM; can be found on NBC Sports Washington). More news from today’s pregame skate can be found below: 

A @Djorre00 sighting at morning skate #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/JyVPpDqDQg

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 22, 2019

Capitals head coach Todd Reirden stated that the team has yet to make a decision on which game captain Alex Ovechkin will serve his suspension for skipping 2019 NHL All-Star Weekend in San Jose this upcoming weekend to take full advantage of the team’s bye week​. He will either serve the suspension at the Toronto Maple Leafs tomorrow or vs. the Calgary Flames on February 1, the Capitals’ first game after the bye​ wee​k. Reirden said the team will make a decision on that prior to tomorrow’s game at the Maple Leafs. Even if he doesn’t play in Toronto on Wednesday, he will travel with the Capitals.

Caps coach Todd Reirden said no decision yet on whether Alex Ovechkin will sit out (mandated for missing All-Star Game) at Toronto tomorrow or vs. Calgary on Feb. 1.

Said they’ll continue to evaluate decision after game tonight. Ovechkin will go with Caps to Toronto regardless.

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) January 22, 2019

Reirden hinted that there’s a possibility that goaltender Braden Holtby could start both games on the back-to-back against the Sharks and Maple Leafs.

Reirden said Caps still haven’t made a decision on which game Ovechkin will miss, but he’s going to Toronto tomorrow regardless.

Also, Reirden was noncommittal on starting goalie for tomorrow. Think there’s a slight chance Holtby starts both games.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 22, 2019

Center Evgeny Kuznetsov bumped back up to the second-line center spot while center Lars Eller returned in his normal spot, centering the third-line.

Caps coach Todd Reirden said Evgeny Kuznetsov goes back up to 2nd line tonight with Vrana and Wilson and Eller back to third with Jaskin and Connolly.

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) January 22, 2019

Defenseman Brooks Orpik will play against the Sharks tonight after taking a maintenance day on Monday.

Brooks Orpik said he’ll play tonight. Maintenance day yesterday was precautionary with three games in four days and coming back recently from knee surgery.

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) January 22, 2019

Forward Devante Smith-Pelly, center Nic Dowd, and defenseman Madison Bowey will be the scratches for the Capitals against San Jose tonight.

Seems that DSP, Dowd and Bowey are the scratches tonight.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 22, 2019

The Sharks did not hold a morning skate as they are playing the second game of a back-to-back against the Capitals after falling to the Florida Panthers 6-2 on Monday night.

Capitals Lines vs. Sharks

Expect the lines to look like this tonight, based on what Reirden just said …

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Jaskin-Eller-Connolly
Stephenson-Boyd-Burakovsky

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 22, 2019

Capitals Today

CAPS TODAY: T.J. Oshie has seven points (3g, 4a) in his last seven games, including a two assist effort against the Chicago Blackhawks last game. More info on Oshie and the Caps at https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/yPVaMnA17J

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 22, 2019

Game Notes

GAME NOTES: The Capitals return to Capital One Arena tomorrow night, where they’ll meet the San Jose Sharks. https://t.co/cMS3vgIMO7 pic.twitter.com/7rTfmSYFv3

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 21, 2019

By Harrison Brown