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The Washington Capitals will welcome back lineup linchpins Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom in the not-too distant future, but since the beginning of the 2022-23 season, the club has received contributions from throughout the lineup to cushion the loss of both Backstrom and Wilson, as well as the other injuries suffered in that span.

Two of those players are Sonny Milano and Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who were acquired via free agency and the waiver wire, respectively.

Both players scored goals in the Capitals’ Friday night tilt with the Nashville Predators at Capital One Arena, doing their best to solidify a place in Head Coach Peter Laviolette’s lineup upon the return of Wilson and Backstrom.

Milano, who signed a one-year contract with the Caps as a free agent (and subsequently cleared waivers to the American Hockey League before being recalled to Washington) shortly after the beginning of the season, scored the Capitals’ first goal against the Preds, on Conor Sheary and Dmitry Orlov.

Sonny Milano taps home the rebound as the power play expires, tying it up for Washington!#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/tE7OmkB0ny

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) January 7, 2023

The goal marked Milano’s seventh of the season and 100th career Point. Milano has now recorded seven goals and 19 points in 29 Games Played this season. The former first-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets recorded a career-high 34 Points in 66 Games Played with the Anaheim Ducks, who did not re-sign him. The 26-year old Massapequa, New York native has three points (2G, 1A) in his past five games.

🌞💯#ALLCAPS | @LeidosInc pic.twitter.com/2vwGInYlh0

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 7, 2023

Aube-Kubel, who was claimed on waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs, scored his second goal of the season (in his 14th game in a Washington sweater) to tie the game at 2-2 apiece; Erik Gustafsson and Trevor van Riemsdyk recorded the helpers.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel with a terrific power move tally, giving Washington a 2-1 lead midway through the 2nd!#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/qNV4Dfsbb3

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) January 6, 2023

Kubel, who scored his first goal as a Capital in the team’s throttling of the Columbus Blue Jackets one night ago, has now recorded two goals four assists in 14 Games Played with the Caps.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel scores his second goal of the season to tie the game 2-2. Aube-Kubel has now scored in consecutive games.

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 7, 2023

The “next man up” mentality that the Capitals have preached all season following their myriad of injured players has certainly proven to be true, and additions like Milano and Aube-Kubel have played their part in ensuring the team has not faltered.