The Washington Capitals took to the ice for practice Friday after losing their sixth straight game in regulation to the Anaheim Ducks. It was also the team’s first practice since Dmitry Orlov and Garnett Hathaway were dealt to the Boston Bruins.
The NHL trade deadline is March 3 and the Caps are expected to still make moves before then.
Coach Peter Laviolette did not make any changes to the lines and defense duo that lost to Anaheim on Thursday.
Ovechkin Kuznetsov Wilson
Milano Strom O’Shea
Johansson Backstrom Cherry
Eller Dud Nak
Gustafsson-TVR
Ferrari Jensen
Erwin McElrath
Alekseev
That loss to the Ducks reunited Tom Wilson with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov in the first row for the first time since his return this season. Caps were outplayed 11 to 7, Winning happened 5 to 3, and Great Danger came out 2 to 1, clocking in at 7:57 5 to 5 of combined ice time. TJ Oshie eventually got a shift or two with Ovi and Kuzy.
Stubbs Reports too Orloff and Hathaway said their goodbyes at the MedStar Capitals Iceplex this morning. Hathaway’s replacement on the fourth line in the near future appears to be Nicholas Opp-Coppel. Orlov’s usual place next to Nick Jensen has been occupied by Martin Fairvary at the moment.
#AllCaps On the ice for final home training before the trade deadline. It could be the last training here for a few of these guys pic.twitter.com/Tdli7zqg3g
– Stephen Whyno (SWhyno) February 24, 2023
Craig Smith, who the Bruins dealt to D.C. in that move, hasn’t yet arrived to start working with his new team. La Follette Tariq Al-Bashir told the Athletic player That Smith intends to arrive sometime on Friday and his status for the Rangers game on Saturday is yet to be determined.
Smith has 10 points (4G, 6A) in 42 games played with the Bruins this season. Laviolette added that the plan is for Smith to play on the right wing with the Caps.
The Caps will attempt to snap their long losing streak against the Rangers in Saturday’s game. The Rangers are third in the Metropolitan Region with 75 points, but have lost their last three games.
Banner photo: Elizabeth Kong/RMNB
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