The Washington Capitals play their fourth exhibition game against the Boston Bruins tonight at TD Garden. Washington is 1-1-1 in the preseason and is coming off a 5-2 loss against the Red Wings Sunday night in Detroit.
A “pleasant surprise,” as Spencer Carbery notes, so far in the preseason slate has been Hardy Häman Aktell. The 25-year-old defenseman has a legitimate chance to crack the opening night roster and beat out Alex Alexeyev and Lucas Johansen for the final left side spot, with veteran defenseman Joel Edmundson recovering from a broken hand.
Meanwhile, Matthew Phillips continues to fight for an opening night roster spot. He will be playing in this third preseason game. He had two points (one goal, one assist) in the loss against Detroit.
Darcy Kuemper will be in the starting cage tonight for the first time. He will be getting the full game according to Carbery. Hunter Shepard will be the No. 2.
Winchester, Va., native Alex Limoges will be suiting up in a Capitals uniform for the first time. The Penn State product will be skating among highly touted veteran players, including his idol: Nicklas Backstrom.
Winchester, Virginia’s Alex Limoges: I Got Them All On FaceTime And Said, “I’m Coming Home”
Here are the Bruins’ lines at morning skate on Tuesday:
Marchand – Poitras – Frederic
van Riemsdyk – Zacha – Pastrnak
Lucic – Beecher – Lauko
Kuntar – Megna – Heinen
Lohrei – McAvoy
Zboril – Grzelcyk
Forbort – Shattenkirk
Ullmark
Bussi
Puck drop is slate for 7 p.m.
By Jacob Cheris
Cut Mantha !
2nd that
Would not matter as his salary would still count against the cap. Its nice to keep good players but sometimes rather than signing them to long contracts and big dollars you trade them. Problem here is the same in Pittsburgh, they both need to rebuild desperately however refuse to, rather try to “retool” which will not work in either city. With the exception of Ovie none of the other Caps are aging gracefully. There is a long season to play and only time will tell. But yes if someone would take Mantha he would be gone. I imagine once his cap hit is less around Jan/Feb he gets cut if he is not playing well or maybe he becomes a healthy scratch most of the season and eats lots of popcorn.
Cheering for Aktell to make the Game 1 lineup!
Any word on Nick Jensen?
He is back practicing with the team
Alexeyev is making the opening night roster either way. If Aktell wins the job on the third pair, Alexeyev will be the extra d.
Come on boys no Mantha tonight!!! If there was ever a night to slaughter another team it would be tonight. Mad props to spencer for having a courage and wisdom to bench Mantha. Actually excited for this game.
Backstrom is not keeping up will the speed of the game. He was struggling back checking 8 mins left into the third.
Mantha literally missed a open net goal during a tied game
Carlson seems extra mopey this season in our end
Phillips a legend is born!!!!!!!
Sad but there is always a legend born in training camp who then fizzles.