The Washington Capitals returned for practice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Tuesday following their 5-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Monday night. The Capitals next host the first place Carolina Hurricanes Thursday night at Capital One Arena.

Vitek Vanecek, Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov took maintenance days on Tuesday. Joe Snively missed practice as well, with an upper-body injury.

Capitals are practicing at noon today. Vitek Vanecek, Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov are all taking maintenance days, per team.

Joe Snively is not practicing. Has an upper body injury.

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) March 1, 2022

Laviolette said after practice that Snively’s injury has been lingering and just caught up to him.

Carl Hagelin left practice on Tuesday:

Carl Hagelin just got helped off the ice, was holding a towel covering his face. Didn’t see exactly what happened, but practice went quiet super fast.

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) March 1, 2022

Tom The Bomb

With a two-goal effort last night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tom Wilson recorded his second multi-goal game of the season (also Nov. 8, 2021 vs. the Buffalo Sabres).

#ALLCAPS 2-3. Ovechkin to Tom Wilson. ON THE PP pic.twitter.com/lD3Zrj2QTD

— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) March 1, 2022

With 17 goals in the team’s first 55 games, Wilson is on pace for 25 goals this season, which would surpass his career high of 22 set in the 2018-19 season. Wilson’s second goal came shorthanded, marking his second shorthanded tally of the season and the Capitals’ seventh of the year, which is tied for the third-most in the NHL.

SHORTY! Tom Wilson snipes one home on the shorthanded odd-man rush to tie it up at 3!#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/EQmySQ6nja

— Hockey Daily 365 (@HockeyDaily365) March 1, 2022

Wilson, on pace for 104 penalty minutes this season, which would be his lowest total in an 82-game season, leads Washington with 19 minor penalties drawn and ranks second with 153 hits, which is the 12^th-most by a forward this season.

Fan Polls

We asked our followers on Twitter how they were feeling about coach Laviolette, and if his job is in jeopardy.

Intermission ask: What gets Coach Laviolette canned in Washington? #ALLCAPS

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) March 1, 2022

As reported on Monday, Anthony Mantha has returned to contact at practices. We also asked followers who will be the odd man out when Anthony Mantha returns?

Intermission ask: Anthony Mantha was cleared for light contact at this morning’s skate. Who is the odd-man out when he returns? #ALLCAPS

— NoVa Caps (@NoVa_Caps) March 1, 2022

On The Rebound

The following graph plots the rebound shot attempts per game average for each NHL goaltender with more than 500 minutes of ice time. [Click to enlarge].