Kuznetsov Participates In Line Rushes On The Third Line; Boyd Draws Onto The Fourth Line For Leipsic; VGK’s Stephenson Comments On Playing Against His Former Team: News From Capitals’ Practice In Vegas

Photo: Samantha Pell/WaPo

The Washington Capitals held a Sunday practice ahead of their tilt against the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday (6:00 P.M. ET on NBC Sports Washington locally and on NBCSN nationally). Here is the latest from T-Mobile Arena.

Capitals

Today’s practice presented in 4️⃣ frames.#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/ihwKRHGStA

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 16, 2020

Center Evgeny Kuznetsov, who has been day-to-day with an upper-body injury since February 10, was on the ice this morning wearing a normal contact jersey. He did not play the Capitals’ 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday and in Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes.

Kuznetsov drew onto the third line and took normal line rushes. Center Lars Eller remained in Kuznetsov’s regular spot on the second line.

Forward Brendan Leipsic was the extra skater as Travis Boyd took the fourth left-wing spot.

Capitals Sunday practice lines:

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

Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
Siegenthaler-Gudas

*Boyd in on 4th line, Leipsic appears to be the extra

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) February 16, 2020

Although he is progressing, Kuznetsov will be out of the lineup and miss his third-straight game, according to Head Coach Todd Reirden.

Evgeny Kuznetsov (upper body) is progressing but he will not play Monday against Vegas, per Reirden. Will be his third straight game missed.

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) February 16, 2020

Goaltender Braden Holtby will be in net for Washington tomorrow night. Reirden has liked the way he has played the last few games.

Holtby will start vs. Vegas. Reirden says he really likes the way he’s played the past few games. “He’s really put his foot down.” #Caps

— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) February 16, 2020

It’s a special feeling returning to the arena where the Capitals won their first Stanley Cup Championship on June 7, 2018. Center Nicklas Backstrom recounted playing in Vegas and the champagne-filled celebration following the victory.

“It’s very special, especially this locker room, too. This is where the party was going on.” — Nicklas Backstrom on playing in Vegas. #Caps #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/f1Jk2aWEaj

— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) February 16, 2020

Reirden’s post-practice comments:

“Tomorrow with a short turnaround here with an afternoon game, we’re going to need all four lines going and committed against a team that has been playing well.”

Coach Reirden’s comments after today’s practice at T-Mobile Arena. #CapsKnights pic.twitter.com/bC3Xmp2gDO

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 16, 2020

Golden Knights

Golden Knights practice on Sunday. #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/LCvXyV9BjN

— David Schoen 📰🗞🏒 (@DavidSchoenLVRJ) February 16, 2020

Forward Chandler Stephenson will be clashing against his former team for the first time since being traded on December 2. Two Capitals fans attended the Golden Knights’ practice this morning in hopes of getting their Stephenson Stanley Cup jersey signed by the former Washington player. He did see their sign and smiled as he skated by.

“I wasn’t really expecting that, but it was obviously nice to see. The support and how big hockey is. It’s going to be an interesting game tomorrow, I’m not sure what to expect.”

– Chandler Stephenson#VegasBorn #AllCaps https://t.co/byQ857zR1l

— 𝕵𝖊𝖋𝖋 𝕻𝖆𝖚𝖑 ⚔️ HockeyBuzz Vegas (@VGK_Buzz) February 16, 2020

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