The Washington Capitals returned from Arizona Saturday afternoon following their 2-0 victory over the Coyotes on Friday night. The Capitals next face the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM on ESPN+ and Hulu. Here’s the latest form morning skate on Sunday.
Vitek Vanecek will make his second consecutive start tonight. He pitched a 19-save shutout in the Capitals 2-0 victory over the Coyotes on Friday. It was his 4th shutout of the season.
Vitek Vanecek will start for the Capitals vs. the Maple Leafs tonight, coach Peter Laviolette said
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) April 24, 2022
Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette said following morning skate there would be no lineup changes from Friday night’s game.
#Caps‘ lines/pairs in Arizona:
8-Ovechkin, 92-Kuznetsov, 43-Wilson
90-Johansson, 19-Backstrom, 73-Sheary
39-Mantha, 20-Eller, 77-Oshie
22-Larsson, 26-Dowd, 21-Hathaway42-Fehervary, 74-Carlson
9-Orlov, 3-Jensen
57-van Riemsdyk, 2-SchultzVanecek vs. Vejmelka. #CapsYotes
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) April 23, 2022
It appears Connor McMichael, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Matt Irwin and Michal Kempny will once again be the healthy scratches.
Joe Snively returned to skating with the team this morning, in a blue non-contact jersey. Snively underwent wrist surgery at the beginning of March.
Joe Snively remains the only @Capitals player in non-contact blue. @NoVa_Caps pic.twitter.com/fOXFqo56m4
— KMack Sports (@KMackSports) April 24, 2022
Tom Wilson led the team in morning stretches this morning at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.
Tom Wilson leading stretches to open Morning Skate @NoVa_Caps pic.twitter.com/PR1IiHxzNf
— KMack Sports (@KMackSports) April 24, 2022
The Maple Leafs arrived late last night/Sunday morning after losing 3-2 in overtime to the Panthers in Florida.
🏒 Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) #LeafsForever
🆚 L (OT) @ Florida Panthers #TimeToHunt #TORvsFLA
⏭️ Washington Capitals #ALLCAPS #TORvsWSH
‼️ Rare @JetTipNet arrival alert
✈️ C-GBIK | ACA7046 | A319
🛫 FLL – 11:27pm ET
🛬 IAD – 1:34am ET
📡 Tracking: https://t.co/K0ABBF3cJm pic.twitter.com/PbCz9hnw88— Sports + Aviation (@SportsAviation) April 24, 2022
The Capitals are 7-1-1 in their last nine games, winning against four of the five teams ahead of them in the standings during that span (wins against the Colorado Avalanche, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lighting). Washington’s 4.67 goals per game rate during that span, which began on April 6 versus Tampa Bay, ranks second in the NHL.
Good to be home 😄#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/kwNvhkwR9h
— x – Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 24, 2022
The Capitals return home after a successful 3-1-1 road trip to host the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at Capital One Arena.With a 44-23-11 record (99 points), the Capitals are one point shy of reaching the 100-point mark for the sixth time in the last eight seasons. The Capitals are the only team in the NHL with an opportunity to collect 100 points six times during that span.
Washington was on pace for 106 points in 2019-20 and 112 points in 2020-21, seasons which were shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Capitals could have become the third team in NHL history to record eight-straight 100-point seasons, joining the Detroit Red Wings (12 seasons from 2000 to 2012) and the Montreal Canadiens (8 seasons from 1975 to 1982).
Vanecek’s got the starters role. His to lose.
Which Leafs team will we see tonight. The one which didn’t show in Tampa or the one which forced overtime in Sunrise?