T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom on IR, Connor McMichael healthy scratch and more from Capitals morning skate
The Washington Capitals held a morning skate in St. Louis prior to tonight’s matchup with the St. Louis Blues and there was some news that happened. The Caps announced that Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie didn’t travel with the team to the midwest and have been placed on injured reserve.
During the line rushes at morning skate, there was one notable rookie absent in Connor McMichael. Here were the lines via Samantha Pell of The Washington Post:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Hathaway
Sheary-Eller-Wilson
Hagelin-Dowd-Leason
Sprong-Sgarbossa-Protas
Fehervary-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
TvR-Schultz
The Caps also announced that Michal Kempny was re assigned to the taxi squad. Martin Fehervary and Dennis Cholowski were moved to the active roster. Vitek Vanecek did not skate on the ice this morning as he’s out with a non COVID illness. Ilya Samsonov and Zach Fucale were the only two goalies on the ice.
Here were the power play units:
First unit: Carlson, Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Wilson, Sheary
Second unit: Schultz, Eller, Orlov, Sprong, Protas
Capitals Coach Peter Laviolette told the media that Samsonov will start in net tonight. Vanecek’s illness popped up last minute. He also chatted with McMichael after the skate. He said this on scratching him:
"“He’s a young player. Guys are pushing each other for ice time & you get that opportunity you got to go in & make the most of it … I don’t see him sitting too long.”"
Maybe it’s nothing, maybe it’s something. Regardless, this is not how you improve the power play. You improve the power play by putting McMichael on the second unit for Lars Eller. But maybe Eller gets a PPG tonight as he enters a big prove it month.
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In other, more positive news, Tom Wilson suits up for his 600th NHL game tonight. At 27 years and 284 days old, Wilson will become the fifth youngest player to reach the milestone in franchise history and the third youngest forward behind Mike Gartner and Alex Ovechkin. Puck drop for tonight’s game is at 8 eastern on NBC Sports Washington and NHL Network.