The Washington Capitals held their game day morning skate at 10:30 this morning at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. They host the Bruins tonight at Capital One Arena in the second game of their two-game set. Washington holds a record of 17-2-0 in their last 19 games against Boston, outscoring the Bruins 64-36 during that span. Puck drop tonight is set for just after 7:00 p.m. 

STORY LINES
The Capitals primary storylines for this morning were the status of Ilya Samsonov (COVID-19 list), Evgeny Kuznetsov (COVID-19 list), Lars Eller (upper body injury), Justin Schultz (upper body injury) and Brian Pinho (Undisclosed injury).

Coach Laviolette provided an update on Justin Schultz during his weekly appearance on 106.7 The Fan this morning. “Right now he’s day to day. You’ll know when he starts to edge towards coming back, you’ll see him out on the ice probably by himself, and then you’ll see him in some reps with the team. And then he’ll probably be getting close at that point, I don’t have an exact date.”

MORNING SKATE

Lines and Pairs

#Caps lines/pairs at today’s morning skate:
8-19-43
73-77-14
62-26-21
13-23-10

33-74
4-57
9-3

2, 20, 30, 92 all still out.

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) February 1, 2021

It looks like Alex Ovechkin will return to the top line and Dmitry Orlov will return to the lineup tonight. Jakub Vrána has been dropped to the 4th line. He was replaced on the second line for a few shifts by Conor Sheary in Saturday night’s game.

Vitek Vanecek was in the starters net during morning skate and looks to get the start tonight

Capitals PP1 : Carlson, Ovechkin, Backstrom, Oshie, Vrana.

PP2: Chara, Sprong, Sgarbossa, Wilson, Panik.

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) February 1, 2021

Lars Eller and Brian Pinho took to the ice after the team’s morning skate concluded.

Lars Eller (upper body) and Brian Pinho (unspecified) have joined the Capitals at the end of their morning skate, wearing light blue non-contact jerseys.

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) February 1, 2021

SHAVINGS

• The Capitals scored on their lone power play opportunity on Saturday against the Bruins, marking their fourth straight game with a power play goal.
• The Capitals are eight for 18 on the power play this season, good for a 44.4 power play percentage, which ranks first in the NHL.
• Five different Capitals have scored power play goals: John Carlson (2), Nicklas Backstrom (2), T.J. Oshie (2), Tom Wilson (1) and Richard Panik (1).
• Carlson is one of four defensemen in the NHL with two power play goals this season (Los Angeles’ Drew Doughty, Montreal’s Shea Weber, Colorado’s Devon Toews).
• The Capitals are tied for ninth in power play goals (8) this season, despite having the lowest average power play opportunities per game in the NHL (2.00).
• Since 2016-17, the Capitals’ 22.0 power play percentage is tied for fifth in the NHL.

By Jon Sorensen

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