The Capitals returned to work on Tuesday following a day off on Monday. The practice was the first for the team’s official 23-man roster, which was finalized on Monday.
Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette unveiled what is very likely to be his lines for their opening night tilt with the Bruins on Wednesday. Capitals lines in Tuesday practice:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Brown
Protas-Strome-Mantha
Johansson-Eller-Oshie
Sheary-Dowd-Hathaway
Fehervary-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
Gustafsson-TvR
Extras: Snively, McMichael, Irwin
Kuemper
Lindgren
It looks like Aliaksei Protas has not only earned a roster spot but could be in tomorrow night’s lineup, as Joe Snively, Connor McMichael and Matt Irwin skated as the extras.
The Capitals open their season Wednesday when the host the Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena at 7 p.m. The Capitals have won five straight season-opening games dating to 2017-18 – the longest active stretch in the NHL. Washington also owns the NHL’s longest active point streak in season-opening contests (8 GP; 6-0-2 since 2014-15).
Should they extend the run to nine games in 2022-23, the Capitals would become the 10th team in NHL history to have a point streak of at least that length in season-opening games (from NHL Stats).
By Jon Sorensen