Washington Capitals’ goaltender Ilya Samsonov and centerman Evgeny Kuznetsov were once again absent from the team’s practice on Thursday, just two days before the team’s first playoff game. Both players have been sidelined since the beginning of last week for disciplinary reasons and COVID protocols.
Other Capitals update: Evgeny Kuznetsov and Ilya Samsonov remain on the NHL’s covid-19 protocols list. This is Day 10. Neither are at practice.
Michal Kempny is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. John Carlson IS on the ice.
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) May 13, 2021
Kuznetsov was officially added to the league’s COVID-19 protocol list last Tuesday. Both players were scratched for disciplinary reasons prior to the Capitals 6-3 win over the Rangers last Monday.
Samsonov was officially re-assigned to the team’s taxi squad and replaced on the active roster by Craig Anderson last week. Anderson stopped 28 of 29 shots faced in the Capitals’ 2-1 overtime win against the Flyers on Saturday.
Coach Laviolette said that both players have been in COVID protocol since last week, although Ilya Samsonov is not officially on the league’s COVID-related absences list.
This is the second time both players have been on the league’s COVID-19-related absences list this season. They were first added to the list in late January and Samsonov was officially diagnosed with COVID-19 at the same time.
John Carlson was a full participant in practice on Thursday. He said after practice he will be good to go for Game 1 on Saturday.
Capitals at practice today:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Mantha
Sheary-Eller-Wilson
Sprong-Raffl-Carr
Hagelin-Dowd-HathawayOrlov-Carlson
Dillon-Schultz
Chara-JensenAlso
Pilon-Maillet-Oshie (Oshie left after rushes, as planned)Fehervary-TvR
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) May 13, 2021
Capitals power play units in practice:
PP1: Carlson, Ovechkin, Backstrom, Wilson, Mantha.
PP2: Orlov, Schultz, Eller, Sprong, Sheary.
The Capitals and Bruins begin their best-of-seven series Saturday night at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:15 PM on NBC.
By Jon Sorensen
Follow @nova_caps
Leaving the team high and dry is going to be tough for both players to recover from. Cant see any other scenario but them being dealt in the offseason.
I agree but I wish they would/could play Kuzy though. He is a threat the Bruins need to defend. We need all hands on deck. They can do the offseason in the offseason…
I think at this point it would be a long shot to see both in first round, should they advance. Both players have t skated in 10 days, it takes time for them to re-condition, and get in game shape.
Yeah I guess. It’s unfortunate.
Roger that.
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