Washington Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette announced that center Nic Dowd will be a “game-time decision” for Monday night’s game vs. the Detroit Red Wings (7 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington in-market, ESPN+ out-of-market) and Darcy Kuemper will back-up Charlie Lindgren, who will make his eighth consecutive start.
Dowd is labeled as day-to-day after missing Saturday’s 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs with a lower-body injury.
Kuemper left with 3:50 left in the second period of Washington’s 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames to December 3 with an upper-body injury and has not played since. Hunter Shepard has served as Lindgren’s back-up before Zach Fucale was his understudy for Saturday’s game.
Lindgren, who turned 29 on Sunday, is 6-0-1 (tied for NHL-lead in wins) with a .931 save percentage (12th) and 2.05 goals-against average (tied for 12th) since Kuemper sustained the injury.
Right-wing T.J. Oshie is labeled as day-to-day with an upper-body injury on Saturday and not expected to play vs. Detroit after not skating on Monday morning.
By Harrison Brown
Frankly, I don’t want Dowd to play. Not that I don’t like his game, but it seems the only way Lavi will start AK. I think AK is that important to wins. Protas is an interesting 4th line center. I like seeing him tested there too.
Interesting take. Not sure I agree, but interesting.
Thanks! If I provide food for thought, I’m delighted. Even if dismissed.
I guess he will likely start anyway because Oshie looks like he’s not going to play.
I could be just coincidence, but look at the recent two games he’s played. We seemed have more dominant a performance as a team. I think this team misses Wilson’s (and others in the past) physical presence on ice.
Know what else I see that seems different about this team? How much encouragement the players have been to Kuzy. How much they acknowledge him and laugh with him. I think Kuzy plays better when he’s having that type of comradery.
Are you saying move Aube-Kubel to 4c?
When is Tommy coming back to play I do not see anything on him
The team has been very secretive in disclosing anything about T-Bomb.
CAps have been very opaque about all their injuries, even more than usual this time of year.