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Washington Capitals: Going with the Same Lineup for Game 2

By Michael Marzzacco

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 11: Nicklas Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with Evgeny Kuznetsov #92 after scoring his second goal of the game against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first period in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 11: Nicklas Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with Evgeny Kuznetsov #92 after scoring his second goal of the game against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first period in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Washington Capitals geared up for Game 2 with a practice late Friday morning.

With Saturday’s game being a 3 p.m. puck drop there was no morning skate. The line rushes from practice were an indication of what the lineup will be when you watch them take the ice. The Capitals are pretty much going with the same lineup that worked in Game 1.

One thing to keep an eye on is Lars Eller though. He missed practice earlier this week due to an “upper-body maintenance” but did play in Game 1. Eller scored the empty net goal and played till the end of the game. He wasn’t at practice on Friday. Travis Boyd was his placeholder on the third line.

Per Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post, here is what the lines were at Friday’s practice.

Todd Reirden said that Eller is expected to play in Game 2 and that this was just another maintenance day. With that, here’s how the lineup should look for Game 2:

Forwards
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Hagelin-Backstrom-Oshie
Vrana-Eller-Connolly
Burakovsky-Dowd-Stephenson
Defense
Carlson-Jensen
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Djoos
Starting goalie: Braden Holtby

Line to Watch:

The 2nd Line

Carl Hagelin: I was pumped about this trade specifically for this time of the year. This defensive forward brings it from a physical standpoint and looks to be more of a pest to the Hurricanes in his second playoff game with the Capitals. As a team the Capitals were narrowly outhit 37-35 but it was practically even. Hagelin hopes to hit more, even with help from fellow linemate T.J. Oshie.

Nicklas Backstrom: Scored the first two goals in the Capitals 4-2 win in Game 1. The first one came on a wicked snipe. The second one came on the power play on a bang-bang in front of the net. Remember when Backstrom got hurt in the second round after Game 5 after blocking a shot with his hand? That didn’t stop him from blocking two shots in Game 1.

T.J. Oshie: Oshie had two hits in Game 1 but didn’t register a shot the whole game. He hopes to get on the scoresheet in Game 2 and be on the receiving end of a sweet Backstrom pass. When the Capitals traded for Oshie, it may have been the best trade they ever made. He brings a spirited vibe to the locker room and he’s the chairman of the “Back to Back” campaign.

Next. Game 2 Preview. dark

It should be a good game. Puck drop is at 3 p.m. on NBC.

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