The Capitals aren't expecting lineup changes against the Rnagers for Wednesday''s game.
The Washington Capitals are officially back from Christmas break, and they'll start things back up with a showdown against the New York Rangers.
They'll have the same lineup, though, as Hendrix Lapierre and Ivan Miroshnichneko have been called back up after being reassigned before the holiday break.
Washington is still dealing with an influx of injuries on the forward lines, as Sonny Milano and T.J. Oshie remain on injured reserve while recovering from respective upper and lower-body ailments. Oshie did skate on Wednesday, though, a positive sign for the team. He was in a regular jersey, but it's unclear if that means he was cleared for contact.
Meanwhile, Max Pacioretty is still making progress and working his way back from his second torn Achilles in a span of five months, though he's been regularly taking contact over the last week and change. Ethan Bear, whose new deal is reportedly for two years at $2.06 million, remains unsigned but is still rehabilitating from offseason shoulder surgery with the group. Both were also in regular jerseys.
Darcy Kuemper will get the start, head coach Spencer Carbery said on 106.7 The Fan. Kuemper has won his last three starts and is starting to figure things out following a somewhat shaky start to the 2023-24 campaign.
Lindgren had started the last game against New York, capturing a 34-save shutout against his brother, Ryan, and the Rangers in a 4-0 victory. He also started back on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning and was banged up in the final seconds of overtime in an eventual 2-1 shootout loss.
Here are the projected lines:
Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Tom Wilson
Aliaksei Protas-Connor McMichael-Anthony Mantha
Hendrix Lapierre-Evgeny Kuznetsov-Ivan Miroshnichenko
Beck Malenstyn-Nic Dowd-Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Martin Fehervary-John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Joel Edmundson-Nick Jensen
Darcy Kuemper
Charlie Lindgren
Puck drop is at 7 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.