The Washington Capitals held morning skate ahead of Saturday’s tilt against the New Jersey Devils (7:00 P.M. ET on NBC Sports Washington). Here is the latest from Medstar Capitals Iceplex.
Capitals
This morning, the Capitals re-assigned defenseman Christian Djoos to the AHL’s Hershey Bears. Djoos participated in Friday’s practice wearing a normal contact jersey. He had missed the last five games with an upper-body injury.
No changes are expected in the lineup. Goaltender Braden Holtby will be in net for Washington.
Capitals expected lines vs Devils:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Hagelin-Eller-Panik
Leipsic-Dowd-HathawayKempny-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
Siegenthaler-GudasHoltby
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) January 11, 2020
During Friday’s practice, changes were made to the power-play units. Forward Jakub Vrana drew into the first unit, replacing center Evgeny Kuznetsov, who will go down to the second unit.
Vrana, center Nicklas Backstrom, forward T.J. Oshie, forward Brendan Leipsic, and defenseman Dmitry Orlov will skate as the first unit. Kuznetsov, along with defenseman John Carlson and captain Alex Ovechkin, was switched to the second unit and skated with forward Tom Wilson and center Lars Eller. Changes were needed after the team went 0-for-5 on power plays in Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Devils
Center Jack Hughes (upper-body) and forward Jesper Bratt (undisclosed) were both out for their tilt against the New York Rangers on Thursday. Hughes did not travel with the team to Washington and will remain out tonight, according to Devils’ reporter, Amanda Stein. Bratt did travel and was on the ice for morning skate.
The Devils placed forward Ben Street on injured reserve with an upper-body injury that he sustained during their 6-3 loss to the Rangers. New Jersey also recalled goaltender Evan Cormier from the AHL’s Binghamton Devils. He joined the team this morning.
NEWS: #NJDevils have placed F Ben Street (upper body) on injured reserve, retroactive to 1/9/2020 at NY Rangers.
The club has recalled G Evan Cormier from Binghamton (AHL), he joins the team for today’s morning skate.
G Mackenzie Blackwood (upper body) will be out tonight.
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) January 11, 2020
Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (upper-body) will not play in Saturday’s game. Goaltender Louis Domingue will get the start tonight.
Here’s your #NJDevils lineup tonight versus Washington:
🔸 Bratt back up on the top line
🔹 Carrick in, Mueller out
🥅 Domingue pic.twitter.com/QrVxEZC0Zz— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) January 11, 2020
Victorious Vrana
CAPS TODAY: With a 1.80 goals and a 2.97 points per 60 minutes of play rating at five-on-five, Jakub Vrana is one of the most efficient scorers in the NHL. More info on Vrana and the Caps at https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/WO10dqXi0h
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 11, 2020
Essential Links
Looking to spark ailing power play, Capitals shake up personnel (Washington Post)
Capitals Host Talk Saves Lives (Washington Capitals)
Capitals Defensive Prospect Martin Hugo Has Traded to OHL Guelph Storm (NoVa Caps)
Fredericksburg In Talks To Make Caps Promotion An Annual Event (Fredericksburg Patch)
By Della Young
Jackson Friedlander interviewing @Capitals @ovi8, @tom_wilso and @TJOshie77 as the #Caps Kids Day mini broadcaster with @NBCSCapitals @NBCSWashington pic.twitter.com/XCpgMUvpNw
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 11, 2020
So the Caps get to play a bad team that’s using their backup goalie. Let’s hope a win results.
These games are tough. You really can’t get too excited for them. if you win. You were supposed to. But if you lose………..
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The Caps ARE in a funk, big-time, and Mike Vogel explains: “The Caps have struggled out of the gates of late, yielding the game’s first goal in seven of their last eight games and 11 of their last 14. …. Washington’s recent first-period woes run a bit deeper, as the estimable Carter Myers points out. The Caps have not taken a lead to the room in any of their last nine games, and they’ve been outscored 10-4 in the first frame of those games. They’ve scored in the first period in just two of those nine contests, posting a 5-4-0 mark in those nine games, and needing overtime to achieve two of the five victories.”
After about sixty-five p***-poor power plays in a row, future Hall of Fame Head Coach T. Reirden consulted the ethers of the universe and moved Jakub Vrana into the first-string power-play unit. “Trying to light a spark there …”
Well here we go again. Caps have been NOT good for seven weeks and we have NJD in town. Which Caps will we get? Stellar or smeller? Glad I don’t have a wager on this one.