The Capitals held their gameday morning skate at 10:30AM on Tuesday in advance of their tilt with the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is set for just after 7PM.
Nick Jensen and Anthony Mantha returned to skating with the starters while Aliaksei Protas was relegated to skating with the extras. Jensen missed the last two games and five of the last eight due to injury. Mantha missed the last two games as a healthy scratch.
The forward lines and defensive pairs on Tuesday morning:
Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Tom Wilson
Sonny Milano-Nicklas Backstrom-T.J.Oshie
Anthony Mantha-Evgeny Kuznetsov-Craig Smith
Conor Sheary-Nic Dowd-Aube-Kubel
Rasmus Sandin-Nick Jensen
Matt Irwin-Gabriel Carlsson
Martin Fehervary-Alex Alexeyev
Darcy Kuemper
Charlie Lindgren
Zach Fucale
*John Carlson and Aliaksei Protas skated as a D-pair as well
Darcy Kuemper was the first goalie off the ice this morning. He is feeling better, but not ready to go tonight.
Trevor van Riemsdyk did not participate in the team’s morning skate. He is with his wife, who is expecting “any moment”.
Laviolette confirmed that Lindgren is starting in net.
Kuemper remains day by day.
John Carlson (skull fracture) not playing tonight.
Laviolette said not known yet if
Trevor van Riemsdyk (baby watch) Nick Jensen (upper) or Evgeny Kuznetsov (upper) will play.— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) March 21, 2023