The Washington Capitals held a morning skate at Prudential Center before their game with the New Jersey Devils Tuesday night. Unlike practice yesterday, there actually are some changes.
The Washington Capitals will roll with the same guys on the first three lines but there’s a change to the fourth line. Nic Dowd is back in the lineup to center the line. Chandler Stephenson moves from the center position to the right wing. That makes the odd man out Travis Boyd, who will serve as a healthy scratch.
There is a small change on the defense. No changes for the first two pairs but a change in the third pairing. Christian Djoos is back in the lineup while Brooks Orpik will be scratched. This isn’t to say Orpik has played bad but rather to get Djoos back in the lineup and perhaps even give Orpik the night off with the Capitals playing the Lightning tomorrow night at Capital One Arena. Djoos will play in the 100th game of his NHL career.
Forwards
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Backstrom-Oshie
Hagelin-Eller-Connolly
Burakovsky-Dowd-Stephenson
Defense
Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Djoos-Jensen
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Pheonix Copley will get the start in goal against the Devils. Braden Holtby gets the Bolts tomorrow. Copley carries a 15-5-3 record with a 2.97 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage. Copley had a void to fill with reliable backup Philipp Grubauer now with the Avalanche. Despite that, Copley has done well this season and he can always be counted on in those back-to-back situations.
LINE TO WATCH
The Fourth Line
To the surprise of no one, this fourth line is what we’ll be keeping our eye on tonight. In their last meeting against the Devils, Andre Burakovsky lit the lamp. It’ll also be interesting to see how Dowd performs in his first game back in the lineup.
Andre Burakovsky: Burakovsky scored in the previous meeting with the Devils and has enjoyed a resurgence after not getting dealt at the trade deadline. He’s been quiet since that meeting with the Devils, however, so expect a big game from him in the rematch.
Nic Dowd: Dowd was scratched from the lineup the last two Capitals games. His last appearance came in last Tuesday’s loss in Pittsburgh. Dowd made a great backhanded pass in the previous game to set up Carl Hagelin for the breakaway after a successful PK. Dowd is now back to help that fourth line and PK.
Chandler Stephenson: Stephenson moves to the right wing after centering the fourth line the last two games.
Puck drop tonight is at 7:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington and the NBC Sports Network.