Nicklas Backstrom Returns Tonight; Capitals Full Lineup Will Start For The First Time This Season: News From Morning Skate

The Capitals made their way back from California on Saturday after completing their first west coast sweep in franchise history with a 4-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night. The Capitals return to Capital One Arena tonight when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Capitals have won 13 of their last 18 games against the Blue Jackets. (Full game preview).

Here is the latest from Capitals gameday morning skate at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.

NEWS FROM MORNING SKATE

Projected Lines
Nicklas Backstrom will return to the lineup tonight after missing the last eight games with an upper body injury. He will return to center the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson.

The projected lines for the Capitals tonight versus Columbus.

Capitals expected lines vs Columbus:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Hagelin-Eller-Panik
Leipsic-Dowd-Hathaway-Boyd rotation

Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
Siegenthaler-Gudas

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) December 9, 2019

Braden Holtby will get the start tonight versus Columbus. Travis Boyd will be the healthy scratch.

This will be the first game of the season in which the Capitals were able to start a full lineup, as envisioned following training camp and designation of the final roster for the start of the season.

Marking his territory. Welcome back Nicky pic.twitter.com/2s1175qZHn

— Digital Media Intern (@CapitalsIntern) December 9, 2019

From The Other Side
The Blue Jackets forward lines at morning skate held at Capital One Arena.

#CBJ forward lines this morning:
Nyquist-Texier-Atkinson
Foligno-Jenner-Anderson
Milano-Dubois-Bjorkstrand
Wennberg-Nash-Robinson

— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 9, 2019

Joonas Korpisalo will get the start in goal for the Jackets.

Joonas Korpisalo back in net for #CBJ tonight vs. Caps. Alexander Wennberg back into the lineup with Emil Bemstrom out. Bemstrom was injured Saturday night in Florida.

— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 9, 2019

FORMER CAPITALS IN THE NEWS

#Habs have called up forward Riley Barber from the @RocketLaval #HabsIO

— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) December 8, 2019

Red Wings place D Madison Bowey on waivers. Has been healthy scratch last 4 of last 6 games. 1g, 7a, minus-13 in 22 games. Was part of Nick Jensen trade last season.

— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) December 9, 2019

ESSENTIAL LINKS

Game Preview: Blue Jackets At Capitals (NoVa Caps)

Mike Vogel Podcast – Capitals Scout Brian Southerby (Capitals)

Capitals Prospect Report – Week 12 (NoVa Caps)

SHAVINGS

Capitals bench boss Todd Reirden met with the media following this morning’s gameday skate.

Head Coach Todd Reirden talks with the media before tonight’s #CapsJackets matchup pic.twitter.com/FrfZjFOGsJ

— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) December 9, 2019

Braden Holtby, who is expected to make his 23rd start this season, is tied for the NHL lead with 15 wins.
Holtby has earned a point in 16 of his last 17 games (14-1-2) and 19 of his 22 games played (15-2-4).
Holtby reached the 15 win mark in 22 starts – the third-fastest in his career (2015-16: 15 wins in 19 starts; 2017-18: 15 wins in 21 starts) and the fifth fastest in franchise history. Additionally, Holtby’s 19 games with a point through 22 starts is tied for the third-most by a goaltender since 2009-10.
With his win on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks, Holtby recorded his 272nd career win and passed Kelly Hrudey (271) for 47th place on the NHL’s all-time wins list (270), and has reached that mark in 442 games.
Among the goaltenders that rank in the top 50 in wins in NHL history, Holtby is the only goaltender to play in fewer than 500 career games and ranks first in win percentage (.615).
Holtby ranks ninth among active goaltenders in wins.

GAME PREVIEW: The Capitals, winners of six straight games, host the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight at Capital One Arena in the first of four meetings between the teams this season. pic.twitter.com/fRSoMQ1kZR

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 9, 2019

Herndon, Virginia native Joe Snively is on a tear in Hershey. Here is his overtime game winner from last night.

Joe Snively won the game for the Hershey Bears last night in overtime! Check out the moment from inside the broadcast booth courtesy of Booth Cam #HBH pic.twitter.com/Uc0CHsGvM7

— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) December 9, 2019

By Jon Sorensen