The Capitals are set for a final dress rehearsal at Capital One Arnea, with some notable absences.
WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals will have their final dress rehearsal before the real deal on Saturday as they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets at Capital One Arena.
Washington's roster for the preseason finale indicates everything is all but set in stone on the forward lines, with one notable absence: Anthony Mantha. Instead, Matthew Phillips will play, and Beck Malenstyn, Aliaksei Protas and Connor McMichael are all also safe in the lineup. Ivan Miroshnichenko, who is likely to start the year in Hershey, will not dress.
Phillips has been one of the team's top forwards all preseason and has all but secured a place in D.C. to open the regular season, and with a big game Saturday, he could even prove that he deserves a look in the season opener on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Meanwhile, on defense, Hardy Häman Aktell and Lucas Johansen will get one final chance to make their case for a spot on the opening night roster. Alex Alexeyev is also in. Martin Fehervary and Trevor van Riemsdyk will sit.
Here is the full roster:
Forwards: Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie, Sonny Milano, Dylan Strome, Aliaksei Portas, Connor McMichael, Nic Dowd, Tom Wilson, Matthew Phillips, Beck Malenstyn, T.J. Oshie, Evgeny Kuznetsov
Defensemen: John Carlson, Rasmus Sandin, Nick Jensen, Hardy Häman Aktell, Alex Alexeyev, Lucas Johansen
Goaltenders: Darcy Kuemper (expected starter), Charlie Lindgren
Washington made another round of cuts on Friday that included some big-time decisions on the likes of Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Joe Snively and more. Hendrix Lapierre and Vincent Iorio also made their way down to the Hershey Bears.