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

Posted on December 9, 2019 by Jon Sorensen


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.

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.

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

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

FORMER CAPITALS IN THE NEWS

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

By Jon Sorensen

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About Jon Sorensen

Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His passion for the Caps has grown over the decades, which has included time as a season ticket holder, social media and community organizer, and most recently led to the founding of NoVa Caps in 2014. Jon earned a Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering at Old Dominion University, and is a Systems Engineer during intermissions, which has been instrumental in supporting his Capitals habit.
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3 Responses to Nicklas Backstrom Returns Tonight; Capitals Full Lineup Will Start For The First Time This Season: News From Morning Skate

  1. Pingback: Road Warriors: Capitals Are NHL’s Best Road Team Through 30+ Games | NoVa Caps

  2. Anonymous says:
    December 9, 2019 at 1:01 pm

    Bowey waived is a tad surprising.

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says:
    December 9, 2019 at 2:41 pm

    Baby got Back(storm).

    Reply

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