The Washington Capitals made their way from Denver to Las Vegas Monday night following their 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. They continue their season-long five-game road trip tonight when they face the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Sin City. Puck drop is set for 10:00 PM ET.
Tom Wilson was moved up to the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov during this morning’s line rushes. T.J. Oshie returned to the third line on the right side. Lines and pairs at morning skate.
Capitals lines at AM skate in Vegas:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Johansson-Backstrom-Sheary
Mantha-Eller-Oshie
Larsson-Dowd-HathawayFehervary-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
TvR-Schultz— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) April 20, 2022
Ilya Samsonov will get the start in goal tonight against the Knights.
It appears Connor McMichael, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Matt Irwin and Michal Kempny will once again be the healthy scratches.
Vegas, Baby
The Capitals face the Vegas Golden Knights tonight at 7 p.m. PDT at T-Mobile Arena for game four of five of their road trip. Following the Capitals’ 3-2 win over the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche Monday, Washington improved to 6-1-0 in their last seven games. Four of the Capitals’ six wins in that stretch have come against teams ahead of them in the standings, including Colorado, the Boston Bruins, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Ovechkin 50
Alex Ovechkin enters tonight’s game versus Vegas two goals shy of reaching the 50-goal mark for the ninth time in his career. That would tie Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy for the most 50-goal seasons in NHL history. Ovechkin is aiming to become the first player in NHL history to reach the 50-goal mark at the age of 36 or older. Ovechkin currently ranks fourth in the NHL with 48 goals. Over his last 21 games, Ovechkin has scored 16 goals. Ovechkin’s next goal will pass Teemu Selanne for the all-time mark by a player aged 36 or older in a season.
With his goal against the Avalanche Wednesday, Ovechkin now has double digit goals against 28 different franchises. Ovechkin joined Joe Sakic, Brendan Shanahan and Marian Hossa as the only players in NHL history to accomplish this feat.
Backstrom is’nt centering the 2nd line and he’s not playing/producing like a second line center either. Eller with Mantha and Oshie are second line and Dowd with Hattaway and Larsson have more ice time than Backstrom, rightfully so since they have more impact on the game. Backstrom is’nt top six anymore, he’s an overpaid 3rd line center with PP benefits.
Good to see Maass get an extended look. Free agent this summer.