The Washington Capitals announced prior to their game at the New Jersey Devils on Saturday afternoon (1 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington locally, NHL Network nationally) that center Evgeny Kuznetsov will not play due to an upper-body injury.

Kuznetsov practiced with the team on Friday.

The 28-year-old has recorded two goals, six points, and an even rating in 11 games this season. He missed eight games earlier this season after being placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

Captain Alex Ovechkin and forward Carl Hagelin, who both took Friday off due to maintenance, will play. Ovechkin was labeled as a game-time decision heading into Saturday’s game.

Center Lars Eller took Kuznetsov’s spot on the top-line with Ovechkin and Conor Sheary, forward T.J. Oshie centered the third-line, and forward Daniel Sprong, who has two goals and three points in 10 games this season, came into the lineup playing on Oshie’s right-wing. Sprong was a healthy scratch for the past seven games.

Here is the Capitals’ lineup for Saturday’s matinee against the Devils:

Capitals warmup lines vs Devils:

Ovechkin-Eller-Sheary
Vrana-Backstrom-Wilson
Panik-Oshie-Sprong
Hagelin-Dowd-Hathaway

Dillon-Carlson
Orlov-Schultz
Chara-Jensen

Vanecek

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) February 27, 2021

By Harrison Brown