Photo: @Capitals

The Washington Capitals came into Monday’s morning skate in all business mode with a chance to secure a spot in the Second Round on the line when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 6 of the First Round. News leading up to the game can be found below:

Capitals

After dropping Games 3 and 4 of the series on the road, the Capitals put an end to their tradition of doing the hot-lap to open their morning skate. The team did one on every postseason gameday on the road last season en route to winning the franchise’s first Stanley Cup Championship. The Capitals went 10-3 on the road in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year. Captain Alex Ovechkin and forward Andre Burakovsky did both of the team’s hot-laps this postseason.

RIP hot lap. No one did it today. It’s done.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) April 22, 2019

Hurricanes

Forwards Michael Ferland (upper-body), Andrei Svechnikov (concussion), and Jordan Martinook (lower-body) all skated this morning, but the Hurricanes made their skate optional, not guaranteeing that any will play on Monday. Svechnikov wore a normal white jersey but Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour has yet to know whether or not that he can take contact. He will know the status of all three after this morning but did not rule out that any of them will play tonight.

Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said he’ll know status of Svechnikov (consussion), Ferland (upper body) and Martinook (lower body) after they get off the ice, but didn’t rule out that they’ll play tonight.

Said he was waiting to find out today if Svechnikov is cleared for contact.

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) April 22, 2019

Capitals’ Game 6 Lineup

Caps projected Game 6 lineup:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Hagelin
Burakovsky-Eller-Connolly
Stephenson-Dowd-DSP

Siegenthaler-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Jensen

Holtby

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) April 22, 2019

The Capitals made no lineup changes after their 6-0 win in Game 5 on Saturday.

Capitals Today

CAPS TODAY: With a 6-0 win in Game 5, the Capitals became the fourth franchise in NHL history to feature a six goal game in five consecutive playoff series and the first since the New York Rangers in 1994. More info on https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/2Xcx3veUOf

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 22, 2019

By Harrison Brown