The Washington Capitals returned to MedStar Capitals Iceplex Tuesday morning for the first time in more than 10 days. The team wrapped-up their five-game road trip with a 3-1 victory over the Flyers Sunday night. 

The Capitals will host the New Jersey Devils tonight and practice at MedStar again tomorrow before returning to Philadelphia Wednesday afternoon for two more games with the Flyers. Puck-drop for tonight’s tilt with the Devils is just after 7:00 PM.

MORNING SKATE

Lines
The Capitals lines at morning skate:

Capitals lines in AM skate:

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

Dillon-Carlson
Orlov-Schultz
Chara-Jensen

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) March 9, 2021

Goaltenders
Vitek Vanecek will get the start in goal tonight against the Devils.

Laviolette: Vitek Vanecek will start in goal tonight. #ALLCAPS

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) March 9, 2021

Laviolette said there is no real plan for the goaltenders going forward. It will be more of a day-to-day call.

Laviolette says there is no real plan for starting goaltenders going forward. “I think we’ll probably just be day to day here.” #ALLCAPS

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) March 9, 2021

Justin Schultz is no longer wearing the full face shield after getting struck in the face with a puck on January 28 against the Islanders.

“I can see clearly now the bubble is gone!” pic.twitter.com/GfBECcZxcD

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 9, 2021

East Division Goaltender Stats
The current save percentage (SV%) and goals against average (GAA) for East Division goaltenders at even-strength (5v5) play. (Click to enlarge).

DEVILS IN THE DETAILS

• Jakub Vrana (2g, 2a) and John Carlson (1g, 3a) each lead the Capitals with four points this season against the Devils, while five different players (T.J. Oshie, Nicklas Backstrom, Lars Eller, Tom Wilson and Brenden Dillon) have recorded three points. The Capitals are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games against the Devils.
• The Capitals will rock their new Reverse Retro uniforms tonight against the Devils. The Capitals are 0-1-0 in the new threads.

Tuesdays with the Screaming 🦅#ALLCAPS | @CapitalOne pic.twitter.com/aoxkxn7ehS

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 9, 2021

NICK OF TIME

• Nick Jensen scored his first goal as a Capital on Sunday against the Philadelphia Flyers. That marked Jensen’s first goal since Oct. 11, 2018, when he scored two goals in a game as a member of the Detroit Red Wings.
  
• Jensen has four points (1g, 3a) in his last six games. With eight points (1g, 7a) this season, Jensen has already tied his season point total from last year (8a) in 47-fewer games.
  
• Over his last six games, which began on Feb. 25 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jensen leads Capitals’ defensemen with 2.88 points per 60 minutes of five-on-five play and ranks first in the NHL among defensemen with at least five games played. Tonight against New Jersey, Jensen is expected to play in his 300th NHL game.

Video: IG: @g_alena13

SCORING DEFENSEMEN

• This season, seven defensemen have scored for Washington (Jensen, Carlson, Dillon, Dmitry Orlov, Justin Schultz, Zdeno Chara and Trevor van Riemsdyk), surpassing last season’s total of five.
  
• Washington’s 14 goals scored by defensemen this season rank third in the NHL (Florida and Montreal: 16g); only the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins have as many defensemen with goals.

LINKS

• For Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, It’s “Shoot first, shoot first, shoot first”
• Vote For Your Favorite Capitals Jersey
• Capitals Defense: Individual Player Performance After 24 Games

By Jon Sorensen

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