Here's everything to know before puck drop between the Capitals and Predators.
WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals are looking to stop the bleeding following a lackluster return from Christmas break, and they'll have Ethan Bear in the mix to help out as they face the Nashville Predators.
Here is everything to know in the second game of the back-to-back, which will close out 2023 for Washington.
Washington Capitals Line Combinations
The Capitals will see an interesting change up front, as Evgeny Kuznetsov will move to wing.
Meanwhile, Max Pacioretty's season debut will have to wait. He remains close to returning and could be back by Tuesday, but he will watch once more as he works his way back from a re-torn Achilles.
On defense, Ethan Bear will make his season debut after signing with Washington on Thursday. He is fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery to address an injury suffered at Worlds in May, and he will slot in for an injured Martin Fehervary, who was hurt in the opening minutes of Friday's 5-1 loss to the New York Islanders.
With Fehervary out, Trevor van Riemsdyk will switch to his off-side to play with Bear.
Charlie Lindgren is also out, though his injury is not as bad as initially thought. Hunter Shepard will start in his place, with Darcy Kuemper, who came in for an injured Lindgren on Friday, backing up.
Here are the line combinations:
Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Evgeny Kuznetsov
Aliaksei Protas-Connor McMichael-Anthony Mantha
Matthew Phillips-Hendrix Lapierre-Tom Wilson
Beck Malenstyn-Nic Dowd-Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Joel Edmundson-John Carlson
Trevor van Riemsdyk-Ethan Bear
Rasmus Sandin-Nick Jensen
Washington Capitals Injury Report
- Lindgren's injury (upper-body) is not as bad as initially thought, and he could be back by next week.
- Pacioretty remains on long-term injured reserve, as his debut will wait until after the new year. He is working his way back from a re-torn Achilles.
- Fehervary (upper-body) is not on IR, but he will be out "for the foreseeable future," as per head coach Spencer Carbery's Friday update.
- T.J. Oshie and Sonny Milano (upper-body) remain on IR and could "potentially" be back by next week.
- Nicklas Backstrom (hip) remains away from the game but has not made any decisions regarding retirement.
The full injury report can be found here:
Washington Capitals Storylines
- Anthony Mantha has goals in three of his last four outings and points in four of the last five overall.
- Aliaksei Protas has points in four of the last five.
- Rasmus Sandin has assists in back-to-back games.
- John Carlson is one assist away from 500 in his career.
- Nicolas Aube-Kubel picked up his third goal of the season in the team's 5-1 loss on Friday.
- Washington remains undefeated in the second game of back-to-backs this season.