Mantha and van Riemsdyk are expected to return on Saturday, while a red-hot Lindgren stays in net.
The Washington Capitals are getting a couple of key names back in the mix and goaltender Charlie Lindgren is also going to get the call between the pipes again as they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
Anthony Mantha, who suffered a ruptured eardrum and required stitches after being struck in the left ear by a puck, is expected to play. The 29-year-old had two goals in his last game and said that the confidence has started to come back, and he's excited to continue to build off of it despite the pause in action due to his injury, which also took away his hearing for nearly a week and caused dizziness and vomiting as his inner balance was thrown off.
Trevor van Riemsdyk is also expected to make his long-awaited return after exactly two weeks. The 32-year-old was injured early in the first period of a Nov. 4 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets after going awkwardly into the boards.
With Van Riemsdyk and Mantha ready, Washington had to open a roster spot, and in turn, reassigned Hardy Häman Aktell to the AHL's Hershey Bears. Joel Edmundson, who is on the ice for the optional morning skate, is still TBD, though if he is ready to come back, then the team will have to make another corresponding move.
Lindgren is coming off a 35-save shutout performance over the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights, and he has also won all three of his last starts, posting a .969 save percentage and 1.01 GAA over that span. Overall, he is 3-1-0 with a .947 save percentage and 1.67 GAA and leads all NHL netminders with at least four games played this season in SV%.