The Washington Capitals held their final workout of the 2022-23 season Thursday morning at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. They conclude their schedule tonight when they host the New Jersey Devils at Capital One Arena, puck drop is set for just after 7PM.
MORNING SKATE
Alex Ovechkin (upper body) participated in the team’s morning skate, wearing regular jersey after missing past three games.
Alex Ovechkin’s back#ALLCAPS Alex Ovechkin taking reps at morning skate ahead of season finale vs #NJDevils
Expected to return after 3GM absence pic.twitter.com/bHoDNIxpN4
— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) April 13, 2023
Anthony Mantha (lower body) and Trevor van Riemsdyk (upper body) also skated in regular jerseys.
The Capitals forward lines and defensive pairs, courtesy of Tom Gulitti/NHL.com.
Alex Ovechkin – Nicklas Backstrom – Craig Smith
Conor Sheary – Dylan Strome – Tom Wilson
Sonny Milano – Evgeny Kuznetsov — Joe Snively/Anthony Mantha
Beck Malenstyn – Aliaksei Protas – Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Martin Fehervary – John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin – Nick Jensen
Alex Alexeyev – Trevor van Riemsdyk
Darcy Kuemper
Reid Cooper
Ovechkin also worked with first power play unit, so signs are pointing to him playing tonight.
Peter Laviolette said Alex Ovechkin, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Anthony Mantha and Matt Irwin are all game-time decisions. Nic Dowd is out.
Goaltender Reid Cooper meets with the media after signing an amateur tryout agreement with the Capitals. Cooper will serve as a backup today versus the New Jersey Devils. pic.twitter.com/rWGsqKzmui
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 13, 2023
Charlie Lindgren has an upper-body injury and won’t be dressing tonight, but Laviolette said he’s OK/not considered to be serious. Lindgren was at the rink and watched some of the morning skate today.
The Capitals announced Thursday morning that they have signed goaltender Reid Cooper of Curry College to an ATO to serve as Darcy Kuemper’s backup tonight, with Charlie Lindgren out with an injury. [MORE HERE]
STAT OF THE DAY
Today’s stat of the day looks at the expected goals differential for all 32 teams in the league so far this season. [Click to enlarge].
The Capitals currently sit 15th in the league with a differential of essentially zero. (-0.3).
[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
Ethen Frank was named to the AHL’s All Rookie Team for the 2022-23 season. [MORE HERE]
Bogdan Trineyev made his AHL regular season debut on Tuesday night in the Bears 4-3 loss to the Checkers. Bears head coach Todd Nelson spoke about Trineyev’s first game. [MORE HERE]
Nice backcheck and steal by Bogdan Trineyev and another long distance shot. He’s come to play. Was curious about his conditioning, as his KHL season ended in early March, but he looks good so far. #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/Z6sumf6o46
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) April 11, 2023
The Bears have two more games remaining in their regular season schedule, Friday against the Islanders in Bridgeport and Saturday at home against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
SHAVINGS
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The worst regular season loss in Penguins franchise history [Pensburg]
- The Chicago Blackhawks announced this morning that tonight will be Jonathan Toews’ last game as a Blackhawk
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As the Caps season closes, a goalie from Curry College gets a surprise call [WAPO]
What a shafting of Hunter Shepard. I wonder if he made a pass at someone’s wife.
More than likely he couldn’t have been recalled due to Cap space. A bunch of teams are having to sign goalies on ATO this past week or so.
Put me down for 4 Ovechkin goals tonight.
If there was ever a game where the Capitals sole mission is to get Ovechkin 4-5 goals, tonight is the night.
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Thank You So Much NovaCapsFans staff for providing the link to that wonderful article in “Pensburg,com.” Really enjoyed all the melodramatic teeth-gnashing. 1245 words of sour grapes. Peng-whines, indeed! Why stop with dismissing the General Manager? Bring on the Firing Squad!
You bet, Prevent! Perspective! You breakdown of the article is spot on.
If my team had FIVE Stanley Cups in my lifetime, you wouldn’t hear a peep out of me! I cried when we got one. What a bunch of entitled, spoiled, whiny little biotches. If you can’t take losing, DON’T WATCH! Try a nice game of Solitaire, or Candy Crush, instead.
Congratulations to Johnathan Toews, on a fine career. Good job, big guy! I believe he was drafted one spot before our own Nicky.