Photo: @Capitals
The Washington Capitals held practice on Monday prior to Tuesday’s New Year Eve’s matinee against the New York Islanders (1 P.M. ET on NBC Sports Washington). Here is the latest from Medstar.
Projected Lineup
Line combinations and defensive pairings had a bit of a shake-up. Forward Tom Wilson and defenseman Michal Kempny returned to the ice wearing normal jerseys after being out with an upper-body injury and illness respectively. Wilson was back on the first line; Kempny was on the third pair with Radko Gudas.
Absolutely PACKED practice today. #ALLCAPS fam, youdabest! pic.twitter.com/lOKTxxmKax
— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) December 30, 2019
Third-line forward Richard Panik bumped up to the second line in place of T.J. Oshie, who is listed as day-to-day with an illness. Also listed day-to-day is defenseman Christian Djoos. He left Saturday’s 6-4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes with an upper-body injury and did not return. According to head coach Todd Reirden, Djoos will be out for Tuesday’s game.
The starting goaltender is still undecided.
Capitals lines at practice:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Panik
Hagelin-Eller-Boyd
Leipsic-Dowd-HathawaySiegenthaler-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
Kempny-Gudas— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) December 30, 2019
#Caps TJ Oshie (illness) and Christian Djoos (upper body) will not practice today. They are both listed as day-to-day.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 30, 2019
Victorious Decade
The Capitals will say farewell to the 2010s as the winningest franchise of the decade and finish with the third-most wins in a single decade in league history. Captain Alex Ovechkin will finish with the most goals (437). Center Nicklas Backstrom will conclude with 511 assists.
Photo: CapitalsPR via Twitter
The Goodest Boy: Daily Post on Captain
capss campfire at the wharf is one of my faveeeee playgrounds pic.twitter.com/znvAX4FVqk
— Captain (@CapsPup) December 29, 2019
Essential Links
Alex Ovechkin Moves Into Third In All-Time Power Play Goals (NoVa Caps)
Finish with Most Wins in 2010s, Record Third-Most Wins in Any Decade (Washington Capitals)
Games that shaped the decade in local sports (WTOP)
By Della Young
Thank you @Capitals fans for sustained excellence always – Passionate fans and a loud building push the team to great success – Together, we go forward into 2020 and into a new decade – Time certainly does fly when you are having fun #ALLCAPS https://t.co/aft7ONiNOU
— Ted Leonsis (@TedLeonsis) December 30, 2019
Thanks for the “Six Sick Czechs” report. With the fact that the Caps current illness trend involved Czechs, I could not resist creating a tongue twister in their honor and now calling the Caps’ injury list the “Six Sick Czechs” report
So you’re blaming the Czech’s for the outbreak? They deserve 30 lashings with a wet noodle.
Will the Caps rebound tomorrow night? NYI will be pumped for this game!
The flu bug should have finished its rounds with the Caps team by now. Richard Panik showed signs of life the past six games and now gets his chance on the Second Line. Maybe he can breathe some life into Little Jakey Vrana’s moribund game
I worry Trotz also has the formula for playing the capitals (in addition to Torts)
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