Here's everything to know before Ivan Miroshnichenko's NHL debut as the Capitals host the Islanders.
WASHINGTON — It's officially "Miro time" in the District, as Ivan Miroshnichenko will take the ice for his first career NHL game as the Washington Capitals look to build off a strong Sunday showing in Carolina against another key Metropolitan Division opponent in the New York Islanders.
Here is everything to know before the Metropolitan Division showdown at 7:30 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena.
Washington Capitals Lines
Just a year after making his KHL debut following a won battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Miroshnichenko will make his NHL debut on Wednesday with T.J. Oshie and Sonny Milano out through the holiday break. He will play alongside countryman Evgeny Kuznetsov and fellow call-up Hendrix Lapierre on the third line.
Connor McMichael is a late scratch due to illness. Hendrix Lapierre will take his place at the second line center with Anthony Mantha and Aliaksei Protas. Matthew Phillips will take Lapierre's LW spot with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Ivan Miroshnichenko.
Darcy Kuemper starting against the Islanders, while Charlie Lindgren will take the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.
Here are the combinations for Wednesday's game:
Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Tom Wilson
Aliaksei Protas-Hendrix Lapierre-Anthony Mantha
Ivan Miroshnichenko-Evgeny Kuznetsov-Matthew Phillips
Beck Malenstyn-Nic Dowd-Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Martin Fehervary-John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Joel Edmundson-Nick Jensen
Darcy Kuemper
Charlie Lindgren
Washington Capitals Injury Report
Milano (upper-body) and Oshie (lower-body) are both out through the Christmas break. Neither have been at practice the last couple of days.
Meanwhile, Max Pacioretty is ramping up and is expected to be back shortly after the break, as he has officially been cleared for contact and has joined the group.
Nicklas Backstrom remains on an indefinite leave of absence due to his hip not responding to resurfacing surgery, but he has been around the team and has skated in a tracksuit.
Ethan Bear, who is not officially signed yet, has officially joined the team and will continue his rehabilitation from offseason shoulder surgery in D.C. He's expected to ramp up after break.
Washington Capitals Storylines
- Miroshnichenko's debut will also mark the first time this year that three of the team's four most recent first-round selections will be in the lineup together.
- Alex Ovechkin is looking to snap out of a 13-game goal drought (the longest of his career) against former teammate Semyon Varlamov. He has been ramping up the shots and chances over the last handful of games and has had some good luck in his career against Varlamov.
- Head coach Spencer Carbery stressed the importance of protecting the net front against the high-flying Islanders, who are led by a red-hot Bo Horvat, Brock Nelson and Anders Lee.
- The Capitals got a goal from Martin Fehervary last game, marking the first time the blue line had scored a goal in nearly a month. Getting contributions from the D-corps will be vital again against a team like New York.
Washington Capitals Players To Watch
- Dylan Strome has points in four straight games, including five over that span.
- Tom Wilson has points in two of his last three outings.
- Mantha has points in four of his last six games.