According to the Washington Post’s Samantha Pell, goaltending coach Scott Murray missed the Washington Capitals’ practice on Thursday due to COVID-19 protocol. Assistant coach Kevin McCarthy was also not present but not because of COVID-19.
The Capitals have three players (C Nic Dowd, D Trevor Van Riemsdyk, RW Garnet Hathaway) who are currently in COVID-19 protocol and left-wing Carl Hagelin missed Thursday’s practice with a non COVID-19-related illness.
The Capitals’ .9266 five-on-five save percentage this season ranks 12th in the NHL.
Goaltender Ilya Samsonov is 11-1-1 (tied for seventh in wins) with a .916 save percentage (25th), 2.42 goals-against average (tied for 17th), and three shutouts (tied for second) this season. Vitek Vanecek is 4-3-5 with a .905 save percentage (tied for 24th) and 2.56 goals-against average (24th).
McCarthy helps run the Capitals’ defense, which ranks fourth with a 2.46 goals-against per game average and third with an average of 28.1 shots-against per game this season.
Center Evgeny Kuznetsov also left practice early due to a lower-body injury.
The Capitals host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday (7 PM ET, ESPN+) and visit the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday before they have another three days off in their schedule.
By Harrison Brown
wow, not good to have a break out spreading thru the team. I hope this is the last of it.