Following a day off for the team on Wednesday, the Washington Capitals returned to work on Thursday for final preparations in advance of their tilt with the Chicago Blackhawks Thursday night at Capital One Arena.

Defenseman Justin Schultz returned to the ice this morning, skated in a full-contact jersey and took line rushes with the team. He is eligible to come off of injured reserve tonight.

Justin Schultz is participating in morning skate, taking line rushes in a full contact jersey. Was eligible to come off IR for tonight’s game vs Chicago.

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) December 2, 2021

T.J. Oshie, Conor Sheary and Nicklas Backstrom all skated this morning, but in non-contact jerseys. Forward pairs and defensive lines at morning skate:

Capitals lines at AM skate ahead of Chicago:

Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Protas
Sprong-Eller-Wilson
Hagelin-Dowd-Hathaway
Malenstyn-McMichael-Leason

Fehervary-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
TvR-Schultz

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) December 2, 2021

Vitek Vanecek will get the start in goal, per coach Laviolette.

The Capitals face the Chicago Blackhawks tonight for the first time this season. This marks the first time the Capitals have faced the Blackhawks since Oct. 20, 2019, a 5-3 win at United Center.

“The success we’ve had defensively is all six guys, including the goalie, in the d-zone playing as one unit … it’s the best I’ve seen since I’ve been here.”

Nick Jensen talks defense on Rinkside Update ahead of puck drop tonight against Chicago.#CapsHawks | @MedStarHealth pic.twitter.com/T8de457j3Q

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 2, 2021

Washington is currently on an eight-game winning streak against Chicago at Capital One Arena, the longest winning streak the Capitals have ever had against the Blackhawks at home in franchise history and tied with the Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets as the longest active home winning streak Washington has against a team.

In his last six games against the Blackhawks, Tom Wilson has 10 points (6g, 4a), and his 0.77 points per game rate against Chicago is his highest rate against any team (excluding Seattle).

file under things that spark joy pic.twitter.com/fBiQ17Kjsl

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 2, 2021

The Capitals’ 82 goals this season are tied with the Florida Panthers for first in the NHL. 22 different players have goals for the Capitals this season, tied with the Anaheim Ducks for the second-most scorers in the NHL (Vegas Golden Knights: 23 scorers). The Capitals had 22 goal scorers all of last season. In addition, the Capitals 3.57 goals per game ranks fifth in the NHL. The Capitals are currently on pace to record the second-highest goal scoring rate over the last 20 seasons in franchise history (2009-10: 3.82).

ready for some home cookin’ pic.twitter.com/IBsRFqR0N7

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 2, 2021

The Capitals additionally lead the NHL in five-on-five goals (61). Over the course of an 82-game season, the Capitals are on pace for 217 five-on-five goals, which would be a NHL record since the League began tracking the data in 2009-10. Washington defensemen have combined for 59 points this season, the fourth-most in the NHL.