After being a healthy scratch for both games against the New Jersey Devils, Jakub Vrana returns to the Washington Capitals lineup tonight against the New York Islanders. Here is more news and notes from morning skate.
Here are the Caps lines from morning skate via Samantha Pell of The Washington Post:
Forwards
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Sheary-Backstrom-Wilson
Vrana-Eller-Sorong
Hagelin-Dowd-Hathaway
Defense
Dillon-Carlson
Orlov-Schultz
Chara-Jensen
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Vitek Vanecek was in the starter’s net and Peter Laviolette announced after morning skate that he would start in goal and Jakub Vrana would be back in the lineup with Richard Panik being the odd man out.
Vrana spoke to the media after morning skate:
"“The only thing I can control is go out there and work my (expletive) off. Work hard, try to do what I do best and that’s my focus right now.”"
Vrana has 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points. He got off to a hot start in the early part of the season but since cooled off. That’s probably a reason why Laviolette scratched him but fans don’t agree.
Vrana will be in a good spot on the third line with Lars Eller and Daniel Sprong. He had limited ice time throughout the season but still has scored 10 goals. Laviolette said last week that he hoped to get a spark from Vrana.
Laviolette said he hoped it “will reignite a fire inside of his game and start to push him in the right direction.”
"I am focused on tonight’s game and I am going to go out there and do my best to help the team to win the game."
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 6, 2021
Jakub Vrana talks his return to the lineup after today's morning skate.#CapsIsles | @MedStarHealth pic.twitter.com/cpl0I9IBXg
He also added that “We’ve had many conversations just about his play in regard to the competitiveness of it and the speed of it. He is a very skilled player but there are other aspects of the game that are very important… We’re looking for a higher level of play.”
Tonight’s Caps game is a battle for first place as the Islanders only trail Washington by two points in the standings. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington.