After center Nicklas Backstrom and right-wing T.J. Oshie both missed the past three games due to non-COVID-19 related illnesses, each participated in line rushes during the Washington Capitals’ morning skate on Monday prior to their game vs. the Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena (7 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington in-market, ESPN+ out-of-market).
With defenseman Dmitry Orlov out due to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol, Trevor Van Riemsdyk will bump up a pairing while Matt Irwin will draw into the lineup. Orlov became the 13th Capital to land on COVID-19 protocol this season.
#Caps a.m. skate lines ahead of BOS:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Sprong-Backstrom-Wilson
McMichael-Eller-Sheary
Hagelin-Dowd-HathawayFehervary-Carlson
TvR-Jensen
Irwin-Schultz— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) January 10, 2022
After stopping 49 of 50 shots in his first three NHL starts, including 28 of 29 in his past two during the Capitals’ road trip over the weekend, goaltender Zach Fucale will start on Monday night. He learned of the news on Sunday afternoon. Vitek Vanecek will dress as the back-up after missing the last five games due to COVID-19 protocol while Ilya Samsonov will be a healthy scratch. Since December 9, Samsonov, 24, is 2-2-2 with an .869 save percentage and a 3.53 goals-against average.
Zach Fucale will be the fourth different goalie to start for the Capitals in their last six games vs. Boston, starting with Game 1 of the playoffs last season.
Game 1: Vanecek
Game 2: Anderson
Game 3: Samsonov
Game 4: Samsonov
Game 5: Samsonov
Tonight: Fucale:— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) January 10, 2022
For the Bruins, defenseman Charlie McAvoy should return after missing two games with a lower-body injury while left-wing Nick Foligno and defenseman Connor Clifton ran into COVID-19 testing issues. The team is waiting for clarity on their results. Right-wing Karson Kuhlman will draw into the lineup. Foligno will also have an MRI for a lower-body injury on Tuesday.
Right-wing Jake DeBrusk is still in COVID-19 protocol and will not play.
Goaltender Linus Ullmark will guard the goal in the Bruins’ crease on Monday.
“Every day is a good opportunity. You always have to prove yourself in this league – every day you have to prove yourself. It’s a real nice challenge and it’s really exciting.”
Zach Fucale after morning skate.#CapsBruins | @MedStarHealth pic.twitter.com/ceEgIdZgoE
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 10, 2022
NHL News
- Colorado Avalanche LW Gabriel Landeskog entered COVID-19 protocol
- New York Rangers LW Artemi Panarin was removed from COVID-19 protocol
- Minnesota Wild activated C Joel Eriksson Ek off injured reserve
- Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Justin Braun has been added to the COVID-19 protocol list
- 2021 Hobey Baker finalist, Division I goalie of the year Jack LaFontaine signed a one-year, entry-level contract with Carolina Hurricanes
CAPS TODAY: Zach Fucale’s shutout streak of 138:17 set an NHL record for the longest such streak to start a career. More info on Fucale and #Caps Clips at https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/MjDUNaNVDX
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 10, 2022
By Harrison Brown
