Wednesday was day six of training camp for the Washington Capitals at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. The “Red Group” held their morning skate in advance of tonight’s game with the St. Louis Blues, while “Blue” and “White” groups continued with camp development drills and scrimmages. Thursday will be a day off for the team before they resume training camp activities on Friday.

PREPARATION FOR BLUES
The Capitals released their lines for tonight’s tilt against the St. Louis Blues. Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov will split time in goal for the Capitals. Reirden told the media “we’ll give Vanecek a chance to start a game, and then see Samsonov come off the bench. And then we’ll adjust that and give them proper opportunities to prove that they are in a competition here and that they should be staying. So it’s a good situation for our four goaltenders.”

Connor McMichael, Aliaksei Protas, Beck Malenstyn and Damien Riat will go again, being the only prospects to play in the first two games of the preseason.

Highly touted prospect Martin Fehervary will also get his first game of the preseason, and will be paired with John Carlson.

The St. Louis Blues
The Blues will bring a relatively veteran group to the district tonight.

Tonight’s #stlblues lines, according to practice, vs #Capitals.

Schwartz-Bozak-Tarasenko
Sanford-Fabbri-Poganski
Toropchenko-Polei-Darcy
Lappin-Olsen-Stevens

Dunn-Parayko
Borgman-Reinke
O’Gara-Walman

Binnington
Fitzpatrick@101espn

— Alex Ferrario (@Ferrario101ESPN) September 18, 2019

Puck drop for Capitals-Blues is set for just after 7:00 PM, EST.

SCRIMMAGES
Those not on the roster for tonight’s tilt versus the Blues held an afternoon scrimmage at MedStar.

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INJURIES
Lars Eller was a late scratch this morning (after lines release). Eller is listed as day to day with an “upper-body” injury. The Capitals are being cautious with him. As a result, Connor McMichael will center the third line tonight. Protas will be 4C. Malenstyn comes in as 4LW. Reirden said Eller might get in Caps’ next preseason game, so really doesn’t seem serious.

Alexander Alexeyev, Riley Sutter and Kody Clark remain restricted from on-ice activities and yet to have participated in formal training camp activities.

FIRST ROUND OF CUTS
The first round of cuts from the camp roster is expected tomorrow  (Thursday). The Capitals are off on Thursday (Tomorrow).

SCHEDULE

Thursday, September 19
Day off

Friday, September 20
9:30 a.m.: Group Blue practice (Arlington Rink)
12:45 p.m.: Group Blue media availability
11:30 a.m.: Group White practice (Arlington Rink)
2:20 p.m.: Group White media availability
12:55 p.m.: Group Red practice (Arlington Rink)
4 p.m.: Group Red media availability

NOTES

• Alex Ovechkin was awarded the Wayne Gretzky International award today (More here)

RINKSIDE UPDATE

From becoming a father to getting a new D partner, Dmitry Orlov looks to build off a big offseason. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/yWhXMp8nsJ

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 18, 2019

By Jon Sorensen