Washington Capitals head coach Todd Reirden told the media on Friday that forward Richard Panik is week-to-week with an upper-body injury but will not need surgery after the team placed him on long-term injured reserve earlier in the morning. He collided with defenseman Jonas Seigenthaler, who will be a game-time decision when the Capitals host the New York Rangers on Friday (7 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington), at the end of the second period on Wednesday when the Capitals beat the Toronto Maple Leafs by a score of 4-3 at Capital One Arena.
Roster News
Defenseman Martin Fehervary, who was recalled from the AHL’s Hershey Bears this morning, will step into the lineup if Seigenthaler can’t play. Though, Seigenthaler told the media that he was fine and expects to suit up against the Rangers.
Fehervary and Boyd both recalled from Hershey. Boyd will accompany team on upcoming 10-day trip, longest of season. As for Fehervary, remains to be seen. If Siegenthaler good to go, #Caps suddenly have eight D-men here, and that’s suboptimal. They’ll revisit after tonight. (2/3)
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) October 18, 2019
Defenseman Michal Kempny will return to the lineup and play alongside Radko Gudas against the Rangers (here). Tyler Lewington will draw out of the lineup.
Michal Kempny announces he will be making his season debut tonight #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/ZPxjKJypug
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 18, 2019
In addition to Fehervary, the Capitals also recalled center Travis Boyd from AHL Hershey (here). He will tag along with the team on their upcoming season-long five-game road trip.
Capitals Lines vs. Rangers
Braden Holtby will start against the Rangers. Center Nic Dowd will draw back into the lineup after being scratched against the Maple Leafs.
Caps lines during morning skate ahead of game vs Rangers:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Hagelin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Eller-Hathaway
Leipsic-Dowd-StephensonSiegenthaler-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
Kempny-Gudas— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) October 18, 2019
Post-Practice Media Sessions
“He had a couple of really good days of practice, and that was by design.” — Todd Reirden on Braden Holtby, who will start tonight vs. NYR. #Caps pic.twitter.com/sR8GC3z5Nd
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) October 18, 2019
Shavings
- The Capitals are 107-90-18-7 all-time against the Rangers and have earned a point against them in their last 10 games (9-0-1).
- John Carlson recorded three points (1g, 2a) against the Toronto Maple Leafson Wednesday, giving him 14 points (3g, 11a) this season, which ranks third overall in the NHL and first among defensemen.
- Carlson is the third defenseman in NHL history to record five multi-point games through his first eight games. The other two are hall of famers Bobby Orr (seven games played: 1969-79, 1973-74 and eight games played: 1971-72) and Dennis Potvin (eight games in 1974-75 and 1978-79).
Oshie chats about reuniting with the big line of Ovechkin and Backstrom #CapsRangers #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/pmdymKpegs
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 18, 2019
By Harrison Brown
All will be forgiven if Caps get-it-together tonight and smoke the NYR
Caps definitely have depth, probably the most they’ve ever had. Two starters go down simultaneously, and most fans believe that their replacements are an improvement!