Preseason debut tonight for the Capitals
Welcome back to hockey! The Washington Capitals take to the ice tonight for the start of there seven game preseason schedule to get ready for another grueling season of NHL hockey. Tonight will look more like the Washington Bears, or Hershey Capitals rather then a full fledged Washington Capitals team. A lot of decisions need to be made for the opening night roster as departures have opened up plenty of spots in the nations capital.
Consider this game an opening audition of sorts for defensemen Tyler Lewington, Aaron Ness, Lucas Johansen, and Christian Djoos. Off season departures have left the caps with two openings on the blue line, and four of those players are considered contenders, which is why the Capitals are wasting no time getting them preseason action.
Veteran John Carlson is in need of a new partner on the second pairing this season. His former long time partner, and Calder Cup champion in Hershey, Karl Alzner has left for the Montreal Canadiens. Whoever skates beside him in New Jersey has an opportunity to make an impression in the competition for that spot specifically. Johansen has been Carlson’s partner in the first three days of training camp, but Djoos could get a shot alongside Carlson after the 23-year-old put up 13 goals and 45 assists in the American Hockey League last season.
Winger Nathan Walker is considered one of the favorites to make the opening night roster. Walker scored in Sunday’s scrimmage, and with that he has been rewarded with a spot in the lineup against the Devils. Chandler Stephenson, Travis Boyd, Tyler Graovac and Riley Barber also will get consideration for the open forward jobs. You also can’t let out former first round pick Jakub Vrana who has two goals in a Washington uniform last season.
The Capitals goal tending tandem is set with Branden Holtby and Philipp Grubauer, however caps head coach Barry Trotz was impressed with Vitek Vanecek’s play in the scrimmage Sunday. The 21-year-old net minder will get to share the net with Holtby on tonight.
Tonight’s line ups below.
Matt Bachota- “Perched on the ice” from “Perched on the MD sports blog”
