With their regular slate now finished — a closing date opposite Pittsburgh's Penguins — Washington has earned several open days for preparation ahead of its opening-round date against Montreal's Canadiens.
Friday will be a rest day for the squad, which then intends to hold a trio of workouts before Monday's series opener. One of those, unusually, takes place inside the downtown Capital One building on Saturday. Spectators won't be permitted at that morning skate, but anyone wishing to see the players can head over to the Iceplex in Arlington for both Sunday's workout and the game-day skate Monday, each beginning by 10:30 a.m.
Posting to social media, the club's PR account spelled out the itinerary ahead for those following the team: a closed Saturday, April 19 session downtown beginning by 10:30 a.m.; an open Sunday, April 20 skate at the same hour out at the practice rink; and a public Monday, April 21 workout, again mid-morning, in Arlington.
Not since the preseason training period has the team last skated downtown, a window during which Spencer Carbery, the bench boss, figured fresh surroundings would help over the roughly week-long lull dividing their concluding exhibition game and the regular-season kickoff.
Even though Washington had been the very first squad this year to clinch a postseason berth, it ended up the latest to discover its first-round foe — Montreal claimed the closing wild-card slot Wednesday night. The Habs barely held off a late push by Columbus, defeating Carolina on home ice in their 82nd and concluding regular-season contest.
The two clubs get their series underway downtown on Monday night, with puck drop set for 7 pm.