Ahead of Game 3 on Wednesday night, the only constant for the Washington Capitals has been how inconstant the lineup has become.
Coach Peter Laviolette didn’t have answers after Wednesday’s morning skate for how his team would look that night against the Boston Bruins — or, at least, he chose not to share them if he did. Instead, he said the team has “lineup decisions to work through.”
Those lineup decisions will carry weight at goaltender and center — the two thinnest positional groups entering the postseason, and two positional groups that have taken further knocks over the course of two playoff games.
Laviolette said center Evgeny Kuznetsov and goalie Ilya Samsonov are both clear of the NHL’s coronavirus protocols and participated in Wednesday’s morning skate. They were removed from the protocol list this weekend, but they haven’t played a game since May 1. Laviolette said the main consideration for Samsonov and Kuznetsov are their fitness after being away from the ice for two weeks.
Elsewhere, center Lars Eller — who left Game 2 with a lower-body injury — participated in morning skate. But T.J. Oshie, who has temporarily moved from winger to center, wasn’t on the ice. Laviolette remained mum on both their statuses, as well, although he confirmed that Oshie traveled with the team to Boston.
Craig Anderson finished Game 1 for the Capitals after goaltender Vitek Vanecek departed with a lower-body injury in the first period, and he produced 44 saves Monday night in the 4-3 overtime loss. He could be in net once more, particularly as Vanecek didn’t participate in morning skate and Samsonov will likely need time to get back in the swing of things.
Seeing Eller, Kunzetsov and Samsonov on the ice, though, was a promising sign for a team that has dealt with numerous injuries over the season.
“It’s always good to see when everyone is skating,” center Nicklas Backstrom said. “That’s definitely a positive, for sure. So I mean, playoff times, you do everything together. It’s about sticking together. So obviously something positive.”
Washington navigated lengthy stretches this year without several key players, such as Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson and Kuznetsov. They still finished second in the East Division behind the Pittsburgh Penguins, booking the first-round matchup with the Bruins.
Laviolette credits the veteran presences on the team and their versatility as the reasons the Capitals have overcome key absences.
But it’s “probably a two-sided coin,” Laviolette admitted. “I would rather not have to do that and find some stability and just more continuity with our lineup day-to-day, but that hasn’t been the life that we’ve lived, that hasn’t been a luxury that we’ve had. Our guys have moved around, played different positions, played different wings, played center. Moved lines, asked to do different things inside of different roles. And they’ve responded.”
With more uncertainty ahead of Washington in Game 3, it remains to be seen if the Capitals can respond again, particularly after an overtime loss.
The center depth remains thin, although Connor McMichael — the team’s top prospect who was called up Tuesday — could provide some much-needed assistance in that role. Laviolette, of course, referenced the “lineup decisions” that must be made ahead of the game, leaving McMichael’s involvement unclear.
• Andy Kostka can be reached at akostka@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.