Defenseman Michal Kempny, who has not played since March 20 and underwent hamstring surgery on April 2, will likely be back in the lineup when the Washington Capitals host the New York Rangers on Friday night (7 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington locally or NHL Network nationally). But he will start out on the third defense pairing alongside Radko Gudas.

Caps lines during morning skate ahead of game vs Rangers:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Hagelin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Eller-Hathaway
Leipsic-Dowd-Stephenson

Siegenthaler-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
Kempny-Gudas

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) October 18, 2019

Kempny’s return is coming at the right time for the Capitals. After the team allowed only six goals in their first three games, they have allowed 20 in their last five and at least three goals in five of their last six games. Their 26 goals-against is currently the fifth-most in the NHL.

Michal Kempny confirms he’ll be back in the #Caps lineup tonight, making his season debut. His first game action since suffering a torn hamstring last March against Tampa.

— Adam Zielonka (@Adam_Zielonka) October 18, 2019

Kempny’s +24 rating last season led the team while his average of 19:11 worth of ice-time per game ranked sixth on the Capitals.

The Capitals showed that they missed Kempny during the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season when they allowed 21 goals in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes in an opening-round series loss.

Reirden confirms that Kempny will return tonight vs. NYR. Holtby starts. Siegenthaler remains a game-time decision; if he can’t go, Fehervary will suit up. Meantime, Panik doesn’t need surgery but is week-to-week. #Caps

— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) October 18, 2019

Kempny set career-highs in goals (six), assists (19), points (25), and games played (71) last season before getting injured in a scrum with Tampa Bay Lightning center Cedric Paquette.

Kempny on finally returning to the lineup: “Especially from the beginning of the rehab, small steps make me happy. I think it’s part of rehab and all the bad is behind me and I’m just focusing now and today’s game.”

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) October 18, 2019

Jonas Seigenthaler, a game-time decision, will skate on the top-pair with Carlson if he plays against the Rangers while Tyler Lewington will come out of the lineup in favor of Kempny. Seigenthaler did skate with the team on Friday morning.

Michal Kempny announces he will be making his season debut tonight #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/ZPxjKJypug

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 18, 2019

The Capitals recalled Martin Fehervary from the AHL’s Hershey Bears on Friday in case Seigenthaler can’t play.

Kempny came close to playing in the Capitals’ 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday but was held out for precautionary reasons.

By Harrison Brown