Photo: @Capitals

Forward Brett Connolly missed the Washington Capitals‘ morning skate prior to their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning (7 PM ET on NBC Sports Washington locally or NHL Network nationally) on Saturday due to an illness, becoming the fourth Capital to be hit with the flu bug. Head coach Todd Reirden called him a “game-time decision.” Forward Andre Burakovsky stepped into his spot into the third-line. Forward T.J. Oshie will play after missing Thursday’s 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes due to an illness.

Brett Connolly has played all 78 games so far this season. If he can’t go tonight, #ALLCAPS 2018-19 Ironman list would be down to Vrana and Orlov https://t.co/sxMJR8z9i2

— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) March 30, 2019

An eight-year old “reporter for a day” was at the Capitals’ morning skate covering.

Live from the morning skate where #Caps play the #Lightning for 3rd time this month. Little man seated in the picture is an 8-year-old “reporter for the day” covering the skate and game. Very cool. The future is coming for us all. pic.twitter.com/sSn26Rj6Ow

— Brian McNally (@bmcnally14) March 30, 2019

Capitals Lines at Lightning

Caps expected lineup:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Hagelin-Eller-Burakovsky
Stephenson-Dowd-Boyd

Djoos-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Jensen

Holtby to start

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) March 30, 2019

Caps Today

CAPS TODAY: Braden Holtby became the 12th goaltender in NHL history to string together five straight 30 win seasons and one of five active goaltenders to accomplish the feat. More info no https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/P7TqIqXrCX

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 30, 2019

Capitals head coach Todd Reirden spoke with the media following the morning skate:

#Caps head coach Todd Reirden on tonight’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning with yet another player feeling ill at morning skate. #ALLCAPS #CapsBolts pic.twitter.com/j6FPyoONgJ

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 30, 2019

By Harrison Brown