Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom missed the team’s practice on Friday after he did not play in the team’s 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Wednesday due to a lower-body injury. Head coach Todd Reirden told the media that he and center Nic Dowd, who has missed the past four games with an upper-body injury, will “definitely” miss the Capitals’ game vs. the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday (12:30 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington).
Forward Carl Hagelin, who has missed the past seven games with an upper-body and was placed on long-term injured reserve on Wednesday, skated in a no-contact jersey. He is eligible to return on Saturday, November 30 when the Capitals visit the Detroit Red Wings.
Defenseman Christian Djoos, who was recalled from the AHL’s Hershey Bears on Friday morning, skated with suspended forward Garnet Hathaway as an extra defenseman, meaning that he won’t play on Saturday afternoon barring an injury or change of plans.
Capitals’ Lines vs. Canucks
Capitals practice lines ahead of game vs Vancouver on Sat:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Eller-Oshie
Panik-Stephenson-Boyd
Malenstyn-Sgarbossa-LeipsicKempny-Carlson
Orlov-Gudas
Siegenthaler-Jensen— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) November 22, 2019
It appears that the Capitals will not make any lineup changes from their 4-1 loss to the Rangers on Wednesday.
Capitals Today
CAPS TODAY: Beck Malenstyn made his NHL debut against New York, and Lars Eller recorded his most TOI in a game this season. More info on Malenstyn, Eller and the Caps at https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/SNqH73asnv
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 22, 2019
By Harrison Brown
Malenstyn made a slick move on that breakaway vs. G Henrik Lundqvist. If that shot had gone in the whole game complexion would have been altered.
Will the Caps rise to the occasion tomorrow against VAN? The NYR game was a big disappointment
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