The news gets worse for the Washington Capitals as they along with several teams are dealing with a COVID outbreak. The latest one to join the COVID protocol list is T.J. Oshie. He joins Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov as being unavailable for tonight’s game against the Kings.
Oshie had just gotten back from two injuries not too long ago. They were both separate instances not relating with the other but both were lower body. The Caps called up Joe Snively from the Hershey Bears who’s a native of Herndon, VA. He took shifts on the second line.
#Caps' lines and pairs ahead of LAK:
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) December 19, 2021
Ovechkin-Eller-Sprong
Snively-Protas-Sheary
Hagelin-Sgarbossa-Leason
McMichael-Dowd-Malenstyn
*Wilson and Hathaway are on the ice but didn't take rushes
Fehervary-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
TvR-Schultz
Cholowski-Irwin
Oshie has four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 14 games. Without a top six right winger as well as their top two varsity centers, it puts the Caps in a precarious position. Despite being in a tough position last game, they still pulled off a 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets the other night.
Tom Wilson is still dealing with an upper body injury. It is unlikely he will be in the lineup tonight as he didn’t take line rushes. Garnet Hathaway is still in COVID protocol but skated. Several teams have had their games postponed because of the virus and for some reason that has yet to happen for the Capitals.
The Washington Football Team meanwhile is dealing with a COVID outbreak of their own. Their game against the Philadelphia Eagles got moved to Tuesday night right across the street from where the Caps will take on the Flyers.
Oshie wasn’t the only one who contracted the virus in the NHL. As of this writing the Columbus Blue Jackets have placed three players in COVID protocol which were forwards Boone Jenner and Jack Roslovic and defenseman Gabriel Carlsson.
The Caps take on the Los Angeles Kings tonight at 7 p.m. from Capital One Arena.