Photo: CTV News
The Capitals are in Edmonton tonight for the third stop of their current five-game road trip. Puck drop against the Oilers is set for just after 9:00 PM. (Preview). The Oilers (7-2-1) have just two goals in their last three games and are coming off back-to-back shutout losses. (Tonight’s game notes are here).
The Capitals will wrap-up their annual Western Canada road trip with a stop in Vancouver Friday night, before heading back east for a tilt with the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Here’s the latest from the Capitals camp.
GAME DAY MORNING SKATE
Tom Wilson did not participate in morning skate, “maintenance day”, but should be in the lineup tonight.
Caps lines in morning skate vs Oilers:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Hagelin-Kuznetsov-Boyd*
Vrana-Eller-Hathaway
Leipsic-Dowd-StephensonKempny-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
Siegenthaler-GudasHoltby
*Wilson had a maintenance day this morning. Boyd took his place. Will get update soon
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) October 24, 2019
Wilson also missed morning skate before Calgary, but played vs Flames and scored a goal. He was not at the optional practice yesterday. Todd Reirden said Tom Wilson is expected to play tonight. No lingering concern.
Reirden said Braden Holtby in net tonight and Samsonov tomorrow vs Vancouver.
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) October 24, 2019
Todd Reirden addressed the media following the Capitals morning skate in Edmonton:
Head Coach Todd Reirden addresses the media after #CapsOilers morning skate pic.twitter.com/XNM7jtW0Zv
— Washington 👻 Capitals (@Capitals) October 24, 2019
SHAVINGS
- The Capitals are 39-30-6-1 all-time against the Oilers.
- John Carlson is expected to play in his 700th career NHL game tonight and will become the third defenseman and 11th player in franchise history to reach the 700-game mark.
- Alex Ovechkin was asked about John Carlson following practice. Ovechkin corrected the reporter “sorry, John Norris”.
🗣 #Johnny4Norris pic.twitter.com/Yncyb0viNg
— Washington 👻 Capitals (@Capitals) October 24, 2019
- With two goals on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames, Carlson extended his point streak to eight games (5g, 12a) and became the first player to reach the 20-point mark in 2019-20 (11 GP). He required the second-fewest games by a defenseman in NHL history to record his 20th point of a season, trailing only Paul Coffey (10 games in 1988-89 with Pittsburgh).
John Carlson is set to play his 700th game tonight in Edmonton #CapsOilers #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/6iiKnBB4a5
— Washington 👻 Capitals (@Capitals) October 24, 2019
By Jon Sorensen
Cool Holtby bzck in net tonight.. Sammy gets net tomorrow