Photo: Capitals
Wednesday morning, the Washington Capitals game day morning skate at Madison Square Garden ahead of tonight’s game against the New York Rangers (8:00 P.M. ET on NBCSN). Here is news from the morning skate.
Injuries
Three players will be out of the lineup tonight due to upper-body injuries: forwards Carl Hagelin, Nic Dowd, and Nicklas Backstrom. Hagelin has missed six games and Dowd has missed three. Backstrom’s injury came to light after Monday’s victory over the Anaheim Ducks, according to Head Coach Todd Reirden.
Hagelin has been placed on long-term injured reserve and will be eligible for activation on December 3. Dowd is on injured reserve and could return on November 21. Backstrom is listed as day-to-day.
#Caps Nicklas Backstrom (upper body), Nic Dowd (upper body) and Carl Hagelin (upper body) will not play tonight vs NYR and are listed as day to day. Caps place Hagelin on LTIR (eligible to be activated Dec. 2) and Nic Dowd on IR (eligible to be activated Nov. 21)
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 20,
Recalls
Because of the injuries, the Capitals recalled forwards Beck Malenstyn and Mike Sgarbossa, defenseman Tyler Lewington, and goaltender Ilya Samsonov from the AHL’s Hershey Bears. They also re-assigned netminder Vitek Vanecek back to Hershey.
Lineup
Here is the projected lineup for tonight’s tilt in the Big Apple. Holtby is expected to start.
Capitals expected lines vs Rangers:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Eller-Oshie
Panik-Sgarbossa-Boyd
Malenstyn-Stephenson-LeipsicKempny-Carlson
Orlov-Gudas
Siegenthaler-Jensen*No word on Hathaway yet
*Backstrom out, upper body
*Hagelin on LTI, Dowd on IR— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) November 20, 2019
Hathaway, Sgarbossa, Lewington, Malenstyn and Samsonov are all on the ice as the #Caps’ a.m. skate begins at MSG. No word on Hathaway’s status. pic.twitter.com/p1l0RjlIt4
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) November 20, 2019
Michael Sgarbossa talks with the media before making his #ALLCAPS debut tonight. pic.twitter.com/18Af58ylyE
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 20, 2019
Hathaway’s Hearing
Forward Garnet Hathaway had a hearing via phone call this morning. This came after Hathway’s match penalty for spitting on Ducks’ defenseman Erik Gudbranson during a brawl in Monday’s win. A decision will be made later today.
Update: Hathaway already had his hearing via phone call this AM. A decision will not be announced until later today.
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) November 20, 2019
Todd Reirden has not heard an official decision on Hathaway’s hearing. He plans on hearing something in the next couple hours.
“I obviously hope that we do have him, if not, we are prepared for what comes our way.”
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) November 20, 2019
Caps Today
CAPS TODAY: John Carlson recorded his 25th, 26th and 27th assists in his 23rd game on Monday, marking the 15th time in NHL history that a defenseman recorded 25 assists in 23 games or fewer to start a season. More info on Carlson and the Caps at https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/ZoUQ2tflX5
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 20, 2019
Weekly reCAP
Top 5 plays from the week that was (excluding last night’s madness):
5⃣ Out of office, off of post
4⃣ Leipsic leaps on rebound
3⃣ Kuzy shootout deke
2⃣ Boyd scores in return
1⃣ Vrana channels Datsyuk
[@MercedesBenzUSA] pic.twitter.com/s0jxrWupJc— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) November 20, 2019
By Della Young
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Wow! A wild week in Washington and throughout the NHL
All these injured guys, please get well soon!
Only on Kommissar Buttman’s watch does a man get a three-game suspension for spitting on the opponent. The NHL will be SO much better off when this Communist finally leaves and we get a real Commissioner.
Sad to see Mike Babcock get the boot! I point to the ridiculously poor character of the spoiled-and-pampered Pension Plan Puppets! These babies on Toronto’s roster sure aren’t Mike’s fault. Good Luck to the new guy from the Marlies. Babcock will be back soon, and with a team that can hack it.
Can Reirden & staff line up all these new guys and smash the Rangers?
Lions and Tigers and Bears! Oh my!