Aube-Kubel is expected to be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Sharks.
The Washington Capitals will look to put an ugly showing behind them and show that Friday was just a one-off against the San Jose Sharks, and they will do so with Connor McMichael taking Anthony Mantha's spot as the second-line left wing and Nicolas Aube-Kubel drawing out for Hendrix Lapierre.
Head coach Spencer Carbery shuffled the lines on Sunday in California, putting McMichael in Mantha's spot as the second-line left wing and putting Dylan Strome as his center. To fill that other vacancy down the middle, Carbery is giving Lapierre another chance to draw in, as he'll go to work with Sonny Milano and Aliaksei Protas. Mantha took Aube-Kubel's spot on the fourth line right wing.
"It's just a way to get Hendrix back into the lineup, that's essentially what it comes down to," head coach Spencer Carbery told reporters in San Jose on Sunday. "We can move Lappy to the wing, he played it in junior, we talked about moving him to wing at some point, but it's a little bit more comfortable with the line he played with a couple games ago. Mikes to me... [him able to transition] seamlessly to the wing and still be effective is probably our best option."
While there would have still been room for Aube-Kubel with T.J. Oshie not travelling due to injury, that extra vacancy is going to Matthew Phillips, who has been waiting for his turn since having filled in for an injured Mantha in three games in mid-November.
“We liked his game a lot in the last San Jose game going back through the film. Now, with Osh not being available, just a good opportunity to get him back into the lineup right outta the gate off the road trip," Carbery said. "Get him into a situation or role where he can best utilize his skill set. That was the thought process there."
Aube-Kubel will be a healthy scratch for the first time since his call-up to D.C. back to open November. He was originally cut during training camp and had started the year with the AHL's Hershey Bears, but earned a chance amid more injuries up front and had good chemistry with the fourth line.
Now, it's Mantha's turn to show what he can do with that identity role.
Washington faces the Sharks at 10:30 p.m. ET at SAP Center on Monday.