Lindgren Likely To Start Capitals' Season Opener Vs. Penguins, Protas Assigned To Hershey As Capitals Make Changes With Kuemper Out

WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals will see some big changes for opening night against the Pittsburgh Penguins, with Darcy Kuemper and his wife welcoming their first child overnight. And there are a lot of moving parts.

Charlie Lindgren will more than likely get the start in goal for the opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins, while the team also recalled Clay Stevenson from the AHL's Hershey Bears to back him up.

Meanwhile, to make space for Stevenson, Aliaksei Protas has been sent down to Hershey in the interim, as he and Connor McMichael are the only waiver-exempt players. McMichael is playing on the top-6, so Protas was the odd man out.

Matthew Phillips will take his place in the lineup on the third line with Dylan Strome and Sonny Milano. Anthony Mantha will remain on the fourth line with Beck Malenstyn and Nic Dowd.

Here is the Capitals' projected opening night lineup:

Alex Ovechkin-Nicklas Backstrom-T.J. Oshie

Connor McMichael-Evgeny Kuznetsov-Tom Wilson

Sonny Milano-Dylan Strome-Matthew Phillips

Beck Malenstyn-Nic Dowd-Anthony Mantha

Rasmus Sandin-John Carlson

Martin Fehervary-Trevor van Riemsdyk

Lucas Johansen-Nick Jensen

Charlie Lindgren

Clay Stevenson