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T.J. Oshie, Nicklas Backstrom Return, Tom Wilson Misses Morning Skate: Notes From Capitals Morning Skate

By Jon Sorensen·


The Washingt0n Capitals made their way home from Denver on Wednesday for a quick pitstop and one-game home-stand against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night. They will hit the road again for games in Toronto and Columbus on Sunday and Tuesday for the final two games before the 2023 All-Star break. Here’s the latest from this morning’s skate:

MORNING SKATE

Nicklas Backstrom was on the ice for morning skate after missing Tuesday’s game in Colorado with a non-Covid illness.

T.J. Oshie was also back after being on leave for birth of his fourth child. Oshie’s wife, Lauren, gave birth yesterday to a baby girl, Lucy. Everyone is doing well, T.J. says.

The forward lines and defensive pairs at morning skate

Alex Ovechkin – Dylan Strome – T.J. Oshie
Anthony Mantha – Evgeny Kuznetsov – Conor Sheary
Sonny Milano – Nicklas Backstrom – Marcus Johansson
Nicolas Aube-Kubel – Lars Eller – Garnet Hathaway

Erik Gustafsson – Trevor van Riemsdyk
Dmitry Orlov – Nick Jensen
Matt Irwin – Martin Fehervary

Extras: Aliaksei Protas, Alex Alexeyev

Tom Wilson, who left Tuesday’s game in Colorado with a lower-body injury, was not on the ice for morning skate. However, Laviolette said after the skate that Wilson will be a game-time decision.

Darcy Kuemper was the first goalie off the ice this morning, indicating he will get the start tonight against the Penguins.

Power Play: PP1: Gustafsson, Ovechkin, Oshie, Backstrom, Johansson; PP2: Orlov, TvR, Sheary, Strome, Kuznetsov.

Alex Ovechkin skated in the team’s Stadium Series uniforms, which were announced earlier today.

Washington will also wear these uniforms for their game against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, February 21 at Capital One Arena, the team’s first after the NHL Stadium Series.

FLIGHTLESS BIRDS

The Washington Capitals host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night for the final time and second of three meetings between the two teams this season. Pittsburgh pounded Washington by a score of 4-1 on November 9.

Action from Capital One Arena can be seen on NBC Sports Washington in-market or ESPN+ out-of-market starting at 7 PM ET. GAME PREVIEW

SHEAR(Y) MADNESS

Conor Sheary is expected to play in his 500th career game tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins, one of his former teams. Sheary won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017.

Sheary has played 174 of his 499 career games with Washington (also 192 GP with Pittsburgh and 133 GP with Buffalo). Sheary has recorded 29 points (12g, 17a) in 50 games this season, which ranks fourth on the Capitals. Sheary ranks tied for second on Washington in goals, trailing only Alex Ovechkin (28). [MORE HERE]

STAT OF THE DAY – FINISHING

Today’s stat of the day introduces (to some) the “finishing” stat. It simply subtracts actual goals from individual expected goals. The stat sheds light on how well a player in “finishing” (scoring) on their opportunities. [Click to enlarge].

There are really no major surprises. Nic Dowd, Erik Gustafsson, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Sonny Milano continue to take advantage of the chances they get, and then some.

Evgeny Kuznetsov’s goal total is very low this season, but his assists are up, and he is second on the team in points per game.

[The statistics used in this post are courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and the NoVa Caps Advanced Analytics Model (NCAAM). If you’d like to learn more about the statistical terms used in this post, please check out our NHL Analytics Glossary]

DOWN ON THE FARM

Connor McMichael scored his ninth goal since returning to the Bears Wednesday night against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He also recorded his eighth assist for 17 points in 26 games and a .65 points per game average, 7th on the Bears.

Joe Snively scored twice in last night’s game against Lehigh Valley. He now has five goals in just six games played for the Bears and leads the team in points per game average (1.17).

Bogdan Trineyev is settling in with Dynamo Moscow and has steadily anchored the left wing on the second line. He is also getting time on the power play and recorded a power play assist in yesterday’s game.