The Washington Capitals made their way to Long Island, New York on Friday following an optional practice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. They begin a two-game road trip tonight against the Islanders at UBS Arena and wrap the trip against the Rangers on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
MORNING SKATE
Defensemen Martin Fehervary (lower body) and Nick Jensen (upper body) skated with the starters this morning, indicating they could be returning to the lineup tonight.
The Capitals forward lines and defensive pairs at Saturday’s gameday morning skate, courtesy of Roman Stubbs/Washington Post:
Alex Ovechkin — Evgeny Kuznetsov — Tom Wilson
Sonny Milano — Dylan Strome — T.J. Oshie
Anthony Mantha — Nicklas Backstrom — Craig Smith
Conor Sheary — Nic Dowd — Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Rasmus Sandin — Trevor van Riemsdyk
Martin Fehervary – Nick Jensen
Matt Irwin – Alex Alexeyev
Darcy Kuemper
Charlie Lindgren
Extras: Aliaksei Protas, Gabriel Carlsson
John Carlson also skated for a fourth time this week, still in the non-contact blue sweater.
ON THE ISLAND
The Capitals visit the New York Islanders tonight at UBS Arena for the second of four meetings between the teams this season. Washington overcame a three-goal deficit to defeat the Islanders 4-3 in overtime on Jan. 16, scoring four unanswered goals to secure their largest comeback win of the season.
Catching the boys’ morning skate just like the old days pic.twitter.com/a7ejtIglwI
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 11, 2023
This weekend is the start of the Capitals’ 13th Mentor’s Trip and first since the 2019-20 season (Dec. 14-16, 2019). Players’ mentors will also be in attendance on Tuesday against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Since 2008, the Capitals have posted an 16-7-0 record with their mentors in attendance. [MORE HERE]
DOWN ON THE FARM
Ivan Miroshnichenko and Avangard’s MHL team won their first playoff game on Saturday. Miroshnichenko had an assist in the game.
Ivan Miroshnichenko handing out face bumps in the victory fist bump line. 👊😁 #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/7B2puNEina
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) March 11, 2023
Capitals goaltending prospect Mitchell Gibson and Harvard University won their opening game in the ECACH Quarterfinals, 6-1 over Princeton. Gibson stopped 30 of 31 shots faced for a .969 game save percentage.
SHAVINGS
- Capitals re-sign Trevor van Riemsdyk to three-year deal. [NoVa Caps]
2023 NHL Mock Draft 1.0: And Connor Bedard goes to… [Daily Faceoff] - Fan experience fuels Tech Week [Sports Business Journal]
- Is 5th Madison Square Garden on the horizon? [Arena Digest]
- NHL Rumors: NHL Expansion Speculation – Houston and Atlanta [NHL Rumors]
- And finally, another goalie fight last night, this time in the ECHL.
GOALIE FIGHT AND @FANTI_29 LANDS ALL OF THEM pic.twitter.com/gMyS6CbRM0
— Fort Wayne Komets (@FWKomets) March 11, 2023
Post updated throughout the day.