Photo: Joe Noyes/NoVa Caps
The Washington Capitals continued to experiment with their line combinations on the third day of training camp on Saturday, which included giving left-wing Anthony Mantha a look on the top forward line. Center Aliaksei Protas also got a few repetitions in that spot.
Other changes from Friday involved flip-flopping centers Connor McMichael and Dylan Strome on the second-line and putting Connor Brown on their right-wing.
Coach Laviolette and several members of the main roster are already on ice for today’s training camp session, which begins at 9:00 am.@NoVa_Caps pic.twitter.com/KJlNWajPIL
— KMack Sports (@KMackSports) September 24, 2022
Left-wings Conor Sheary and Marcus Johansson also flipped places in the bottom-six forward group.
In addition to Protas, Leason also worked in some reps while left-wings Joe Snively and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby did not skate with the main group unlike Friday.
Some changes to the Capitals lines today as Laviolette said there would be:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Mantha
McMichael-Strome-Brown
Sheary-Eller-Oshie
Johansson-Dowd-Hathaway
Extra: Leason, ProtasFehervary-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
Gustafsson-TvR
Irwin-JohansenKuemper
Lindgren— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) September 24, 2022
No changes were made on defense from Friday’s training camp activities except Lucas Johansen taking over for Gabriel Carlsson as an extra.
Alex Ovechkin leads the team stretches to begin the Group A session. Anthony Mantha was seen taking reps with 1st line in initial drills.@NoVa_Caps #AllCaps pic.twitter.com/aX7uu6kpa0
— KMack Sports (@KMackSports) September 24, 2022
Neither one of goaltenders Darcy Kuemper or Charlie Lindgren will make their preseason debut when the Capitals host the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday (2 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington locally, NHL Network nationally), head coach Peter Laviolette announced.
Capitals not expected to dress many of their regulars for the preseason opener against the Sabres tomorrow. Peter Laviolette said neither Darcy Kuemper nor Charlie Lindgren will play tomorrow. Expect to see the full lineup later this afternoon.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) September 24, 2022
The Capitals have to dress a minimum of six veterans each preseason game so expect a very prospect and/or rookie-heavy roster for Sunday’s game. The deeper the preseason gets, the closer the lineup will likely look like to the one that the Capitals will ice for opening night on October 12.
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* Boston Bruins sign UFA defenseman Anton Stralman to PTO
By Harrison Brown
Makes sense, regarding netminders. We need to see Clay Stevenson and Hunter Shepard, others.
We knew LuJo would get a shot. It’s now or never for him.
Bears Roster (from webpage & app): No information available for the 2022-23 Regular Season.
Rays Roster (from webpage): 2022-23 REGULAR SEASON
Everyone’s waiting for the Caps.
Yep, it’s a waiting game for next 5 days or so. I expect first round of cuts coming after second preseason game on Wednesday.