Washington Capitals’ captain Alex Ovechkin did not participate in the team’s gameday morning skate on Thursday. He remains listed “day-to-day” with a lower body injury, which he sustained in the third period of the Capitals first game with the Islanders on Thursday.
Ovechkin has missed the Capitals last two games against the Islanders and has not participated in team practices or morning skates since the injury occurred.
Capitals coach Peter Laviolette confirms Vitek Vanecek will start vs. the Penguins tonight.
He said Justin Schultz (lower body) is available to play. John Carlson (lower body) will be a game time decision.
Alex Ovechkin (lower body) will definitely miss his third in a row.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) April 29, 2021
John Carlson also did not participate in the team’s morning skate, and will be a game-time decision for tonight (lower-body injury).
Justin Schultz did participate in morning skate and it appears he will return to the lineup tonight against Pittsburgh. He’s missed the last three games.
Capitals lines at AM skate:
Sprong-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Mantha-Backstrom-Oshie
Sheary-Eller-Raffl
Hagelin-Dowd-HathawayOrlov-Schultz
Dillon-TvR
Chara-Jensen*Ovechkin (lower-body) remains day-to-day
*Carlson (lower-body) is a game-time decision
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) April 29, 2021
Tristan Jarry will start in goal tonight for the Penguins. Evgeni Malkin, Frederick Gaudreau and Brandon Tanev are a game-time decisions.
Tristan Jarry will start in net for the Penguins tonight against Vitek Vanecek for the Capitals.
When asked about Malkin, Gaudreau and Tanev’s availabilities for tonight, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said “Tonight’s lineup is a game-time decision.”
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) April 29, 2021
Vitek Vanecek will get the start in goal tonight. He made 18 saves in the Capitals 1-0 shutout of the Islanders on Tuesday.
The Capitals host the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first game of a two-game set tonight at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is set for just after 7:00 PM.
By Jon Sorensen