The Washington Capitals will start Devante Smith-Pelly on the right wing of their top line with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin in Thursday’s Game 4 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Smith-Pelly will fill in for Tom Wilson while he serves a three-game suspension for an illegal check to the head in Game 3.
With two top-six forwards both out — Wilson and the injured Andre Burakovsky — Shane Gersich will be slotted into the fourth line and make his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut.
This morning’s lines, likely pointing to the #Capitals strategy tonight:
— Adam Zielonka (@Adam_Zielonka) May 3, 2018
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-DSP
Stephenson-Backstrom-Oshie
Connolly-Eller-Vrana
Gersich-Beagle-Chiasson
Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Djoos
Holtby.
“(Wilson) has all our backs out there, so when something like this happens, next guy up and we’ve got to have his back,” Smith-Pelly said. “That’s really the mentality we all have to have. That’s what we’ll have to do moving forward, have his back for the next three games.”
Smith-Pelly said he is happy with how he’s played this postseason. He has two goals and an assist in nine games on the third line.
Capitals coach Barry Trotz said Smith-Pelly has “some weight to him” and gets after pucks.
“He’s played on that line. They’re familiar with each other, so I think it’s just an easy for for us to move forward,” Trotz said. “Most of the lines have played together that you’ll see from us tonight.”
Gersich said he was told Wednesday, before Wilson was suspended, that he would be moved into the top 12 forwards if Wilson were ruled out.
“I’ll just try to use my legs as much as I can. I’ll keep my game pretty simple and just try to help the team get a win,” Gersich said.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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