With center Lars Eller out with COVID-19, Washington Capitals right-wing Daniel Sprong will draw in and center Connor McMichael will shift to center for Tuesday night’s game against the New York Islanders at Capital One Arena (7 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington in-market, ESPN+ out-of-market). This will be just Sprong’s second game in the last month.
Head coach Peter Laviolette said center Michael Vecchione, who was recalled prior to Tuesday’s game, is just “here for now” and did not take line rushes, meaning that he will likely be an extra against the Islanders. To recall him, the team had to place Eller on non-roster to give them the needed roster spot and move left-wing Joe Snively, who is week-to-week with a lower-body injury, from injured reserve to long-term injured reserve (meaning he cannot return until Friday, March 25 at the Buffalo Sabres) to give them the cap space.
Laviolette said Vecchione is just “here for now” so doesn’t sound like he’ll get in tonight vs Isles. Instead, sounds like same WSH lineup vs VAN on Friday. McMichael would move to center the third line.
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) March 15, 2022
Goaltender Vitek Vanecek will start for the fifth time in six games. The 25-year-old is 9-4-0 with a .927 save percentage, a 2.19 goals-against average, and three shutouts (one of which coming against the Islanders on January 15) since December 17.
Goaltender Semyon Varlamov will start for the Islanders.
NHL News
Stars general manager Jim Nill has made the following statement regarding goaltender Anton Khudobin: pic.twitter.com/c3h367NYnU
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) March 15, 2022
Sounds like #Habs will be sitting out D Ben Chiarot tonight for asset protection ahead of a likely trade over next six days.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 15, 2022
Capitals Today
CAPS TODAY: Alex Ovechkin enters tonight’s game with several all-time lists within reach, including sole possession of third on the NHL’s scoring list. More info on the #Caps captain and Caps Clips at https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/mEOOEq4k9G
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 15, 2022
By Harrison Brown
