The Washington Capitals were back to work Thursday morning to finalize preparations for their next tilt with the Islanders. Washington holds a record of 7-4-0 in their last 11 games against New York. They conclude their two-game set tonight at Capital One Arena with puck drop is set for 7:07 p.m.
The big news this morning was the status of Nicklas Backstrom and Lars Eller, who both sustained injuries in Tuesday night’s game 3-2 win over the Islanders. Backstrom participated in today’s morning skate and should be good to go tonight. Lars Eller did not practice this morning. He is listed as day to day.
Lars Eller is day-to-day with an upper body injury, per Capitals.
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) January 28, 2021
Tom Wilson once again participated in practice. He has missed the last two games due to a lower body injury he sustained against Buffalo. Brian Pinho did not practice, but did workout this morning.
Pinho, who’s been out with an undisclosed injury, is not skating but working out off ice. This is key because he’s a center, obviously. #Caps
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) January 28, 2021
With centers Kuznetsov, Eller and Pinho out, Laviolette has had to juggle his lines, considerably.
LINES
TJ Oshie practiced at center on the second line. He took a couple shifts at center at the end of the game on Tuesday and takes faceoffs regularly on PP.
Capitals lines at morning skate:
Vrana-Backstrom-Wilson
Sheary-Oshie-Panik
Hagelin-Dowd-Hathaway
Carr-Sgarbossa-SprongDillon-Carlson
Chara-Schultz
Siegenthaler-TvrVanecek
Anderson
Copley*Jensen, Fehervary, McMichael also skating.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) January 28, 2021
It looks like Vitek Vanecek will get the start between the pipes again tonight. The Capitals power play units in this morning’s skate:
PP1: Schultz, Carlson, Backstrom, Oshie, Vrana
PP2: Chara, Sprong, Panik, Sgarbossa, Wilson.
MEDIA SESSIONS
Peter Laviolette
Laviolette met with media following morning skate. He discussed his decision to go with TJ Oshie at center on the second line tonight.
Laviolette re: Oshie playing center: “I do think he’s one of those players that is smart enough…I do think he will be able to handle it”#ALLCAPS
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) January 28, 2021
Nicklas Backstrom
Backstrom, sporting a new shiner, also met with the media this morning. He said that he had some tough breaks in the last game. More here.
Backstrom: “I had some tough breaks in the last game”#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/SNcpslNkp0
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) January 28, 2021
TJ Oshie
Oshie also met with the media following the team’s morning skate. He was asked about playing center in tonight’s game. More here.
Oshie: re: playing center: “I feel it wont be too big of a shock”#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/KaHejclHkR
— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) January 28, 2021
SHAVINGS
- Justin Schultz scored the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal against the New York Islanders on Tuesday with 27 second remaining in the game. It marked the latest goal the Capitals have scored in regulation this season.
- Schultz’s goal was his first game-winner since March 5, 2018 as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, when he scored the overtime goal against the Calgary Flames.
- Schultz has two consecutive multi-point games (2g, 2a). That marks his first time recording two consecutive multi-point games since Nov. 25 through Nov. 27, 2017 with the Pittsburgh Penguins (4a).
- Schultz has recorded 37 multi-point games in his career. Over his previous five seasons with Pittsburgh, Schultz’s 113 points (22g, 91a) ranked second among Penguins defensemen, despite ranking fourth in games played (234).
- Schultz’s best offensive season came in 2016-17, where he set career highs in goals (12), assists (39) and points (51), tying for seventh in both goals and points that season among all NHL defensemen.
By Jon Sorensen
