The Washington Capitals held their second consecutive practice ahead of Thursday’s matchup against the Seattle Kraken. There were a lot of injury updates on Tuesday and we should get more clarity on who is going to play.
Lapierre/Phillips-Strome-Wilson Pacioretty-Kuznetsov-Oshie Protas-McMichael-Mantha Malenstyn-Dowd-NAK replacement goalie mask straps
Fehervary-Carlson TvR-Jensen Edmundson-Bear Alexeyev-Milano (non-contact)
After missing Tuesday’s practice, Alex Ovechkin returned to MedStar Capitals Iceplex. However, he did not take normal line rushes. Hendrix Lapierre and Matthew Phillips were rotating in the top line left wing spot. Ovechkin was only on the ice for skills work.
#ALLCAPS injury updates for Wednesday: 🏒Ovi will be reevaluated tomorrow ahead of SEA 🏒Oshie practiced, should be good to go 🏒Ditto for Wilson, who wore a bubble in practice 🏒Milano skated in a no-contact jersey still 🏒Sandin did not practice
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) January 10, 2024
Tom Wilson took normal line rushes, but was sporting a fish bowl during practice. T.J. Oshie also took normal line rushes. He was on a line with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Max Pacioretty.
Tom Wilson in a hybrid shield today. Didn’t practice yesterday pic.twitter.com/rlcbDrDMlR
Sonny Milano remained in a non-contact jersey. He is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Alex Ovechkin enters tomorrow’s game against the Seattle Kraken on a five-game point streak (2g-4a–6p), his second streak of five or more games this season (6 games, 10/18/23-10/29/23: 2g-6a–8p). Ovechkin, who turned 38 in September, is one of two players age 38 or older to record a point streak of six or more games this season (Joe Pavelski, 9 games, 11/12/23-12/2/23: 6g-6a–12p). In four career games against Seattle, Ovechkin has recorded eight points (3g, 5a). [More here.]
Ovechkin leads the Capitals in points (26), points-per-game (0.68), primary assists (13), shots (134) and individual scoring chances at five-on-five this season (79) (per Natural Stat Trick ). The captain has registered nine points (3g, 6a) in Washington’s last 10 games, which leads the team in that span. This season, the Capitals are 5-1-1 when Ovechkin scores a goal and 12-5-3 when he records a point. [More here.]
Today 10:30 a.m.: Practice, MedStar Capitals Iceplex
Thursday, Jan. 11 10:30 a.m.: Optional morning skate, MedStar Capitals Iceplex
7 p.m.: Capitals vs. Seattle Kraken, Capital One Arena TV: MNMT Radio: 106.7 The Fan, Caps Radio 24/7
Friday, Jan. 12 11 a.m.: Practice, MedStar Capitals Iceplex
Saturday, Jan. 13 10:45 a.m.: Head coach Spencer Carbery media availability, Capital One Arena 1 p.m.: Capitals vs. New York Rangers, Capital One Arena TV: ABC, ESPN+ Radio: 106.7 The Fan, Caps Radio 24/7
Head coach Spencer Carbery shares his thoughts on the team as it nears the halfway point of the season, the impact of T.J. Oshie’s prospective return to the lineup and more following practice this morning. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/B9zGfyQz72
A post shared by Gina Nucci Carlson (@gnacarlson)
Is that MP, first team all-star from AHL last year?
I can remember when players did not wear helmets even the goalies. The when although they wore helmets there were no face shields. Now many players are wearing faceshields. I wonder how long it will be before the full grill mask that they wear in college and juniors or the hybris sheild./rill mask , as Wilson wore today, will become mandatory in the NHL? It would mean the end to fighting however I wonder how many injuries it would prevent, especially lost teeth? There is the rule about getting off the ice if your helmet comes off so they tweek the rule a bit to include fighting and an automatic additional 2 minutes if you take it off to fight. Just a thought.
I have read the stories about how difficult it was for goalies to get masks and how players fought the helmet rule. I can remember the fighting against mandatory visors. Now there may be cut resistant neck guards next year (I think they are already mandatory in all the Pits organization). I have long been in favor of full face masks at the pro level. These facial injuries should not be badges of honor.
When Strome is on that line Ovi doesn’t score, but get’s assists. Caps record is worse when he doesn’t score.
One of my enduring memories of the Cup run is John Carlson holding his kid during the victory celebration, while being interviewed. JC gets a lot of flak from Caps fans, but he seems to be a genuinely good guy. His wife certainly loves him.
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