Capitals forward Nic Dowd did not participate in this morning’s game-day skate and will be a scratch tonight against the Sabres. Dowd was injured in the Capitals last game against the Maple Leafs. He is listed “day-to-day”.

With Dowd being injured, the Capitals recalled Liam O’Brien from Hershey on Friday morning. (More here.) Dowd and Richard Panik, who is on LTIR, skated after practice this morning.

Panik and Dowd are currently on the ice going through a workout. As Panik is on LTIR, he is not eligible to return until after the game Nov. 9 against Vegas. That will mark 10 games out.

— JJ Regan (@JJReganNBCS) November 1, 2019

Evgeny Kuznetsov, who was also injured in the first period of Tuesday nights tilt with Toronto, practiced in his usual second line center position, and looks like he will be able to go tonight.

Todd Reirden said the plan is for Kuznetsov to play tonight vs Buffalo.

Dowd is still day-to-day.

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) November 1, 2019

It looks like Braden Holtby will get the start tonight.

Looks like Holtby is expected to be in net tonight vs Buffalo.

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) November 1, 2019

The lines at morning skate:

Caps expected lines vs Buffalo:

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

Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Gudas
Siegenthaler-Jensen

*looks like is Kuznetsov in; Dowd not playing

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) November 1, 2019

Todd Reirden’s presser following today’s morning skate:

Head Coach Todd Reirden previews tonight’s #CapsSabres matchup pic.twitter.com/mbXAMyjJC2

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 1, 2019

SHAVINGS

• The Capitals are 31-38-9-3 all-time against the Sabres at Capital One Arena, 11-3-0 in their last 14 games. Last season, the Capitals won the series matchup 2-1-0.
• With a two goal performance against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 29, John Carlson recorded his 22nd and 23rd points of the season (7g, 16a) to establish a franchise record for the most points by a defenseman in a calendar month, eclipsing the previous high of 22 set by Sergei Gonchar in January 2000 (10g, 12a in 14 games). Only one blueliner in NHL history has recorded more points than Carlson in a single month of October: Calgary’s Al MacInnis in 1990 (8g, 17a, 25 points in 13 games).