The Capitals center missed action this weekend due to illness.
ARLINGTON, V.A. — Despite missing a couple of missing names, the Washington Capitals were in high spirits and took part in a rather competitive practice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Tuesday as they prepare to take on the Buffalo Sabres in 24 hours — and it involved some tennis, too.
Washington's skate consisted of some drills before going to a 4-on-4 scrimmage and some more game situations, and the team closed things out with some odd-man rushes and breakaways in another mini-game. After practice, No. 16 Frances Tiafoe joined the Capitals for some tennis on the ice.
Nic Dowd took a maintenance day, while Martin Fehervary remained off the ice as he continues to deal with a lower-body injury he suffered in front of the net back on Nov. 10 against the New Jersey Devils. Dowd is expected to play as Washington returns to action Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres.
Meanwhile, Evgeny Kuznetsov practiced for the second straight day after missing Saturday's 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets due to illness. Head coach Spencer Carbery said that his status for Wednesday is up in the air, though, given the time he's missed and the fact that he's still getting over his illness.
The Capitals did not run lines but is expected to maintain the combinations it ran on Monday. If Kuznetsov can't go, expect Hendrix Lapierre to slot in where he was between Sonny Milano and Aliaksei Protas.
Here were those combos:
Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Tom Wilson
Anthony Mantha-Connor McMichael-T.J. Oshie
Sonny Milano-Hendrix Lapierre/Evgeny Kuznetsov-Aliaksei Protas
Beck Malenstyn-Nic Dowd-Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Rasmus Sandin-John Carlson
Joel Edmundson-Nick Jensen
Alex Alexeyev-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Puck drop between Washington and Buffalo is at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena.