The Capitals made some more tweaks, with the team looking to generate more offense.
ARLINGTON, V.A. — Spencer Carbery made it known that he isn't happy with the way things are going for the Washington Capitals, as the team continues to struggle to execute nine games into the season. In turn, the lines saw some more changes on Friday, and there's also a change in goal.
Carbery promoted Aliaksei Protas and made some slight tweaks to the forward lines, and Alex Alexeyev will draw back in on defense.
"Trying to shake things up. A few things I didn't like from Sonny last night, and partly, Protas," Carbery explained.
Meanwhile, Charlie Lindgren will start in goal on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets after a rough go-of-it for Darcy Kuemper in Thursday's 3-0 loss to the New York Islanders. Kuemper let in the first two shots he faced and three of the first five from New York.
Washington has been struggling greatly to get goals at 5-on-5. The Capitals haven't seen Alex Ovechkin score yet at even strength, and though the team dominated possession on Thursday, missed tape-to-tape passes, tough bounces and failed chances led to Washington's second shutout loss of the season on Thursday.
"We have to look at ourselves... it's a product of us not doing a good enough job," Carbery added, saying that certain plays should be "bang, bang, bang."
Here were the combinations, which will hold for Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets:
Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Tom Wilson
Sonny Milano-Evgeny Kuznetsov-T.J. Oshie
Anthony Mantha-Connor McMichael-Aliaksei Protas
Beck Malenstyn-Hendrix Lapierre-Matthew Phillips
Martin Fehervary-John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Alex Alexeyev-Nick Jensen
Hardy Häman Aktell-Lucas Johasnen
Charlie Lindgren
Darcy Kuemper