October 8 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets at Capital One Arena
Time: 7:00 p.m.
TV: NBCSW
Radio: 106.7 The Fan, Capitals Radio 24/7
Columbus Blue Jackets (4-2-1)
Washington Capitals (3-1-1)
Just over two weeks after the beginning in their 2022 coaching camp, the Caps will conclude their six-pack of preseason tune-ups on Saturday night time after they host the Columbus Blue Jackets within the exhibition finale for either one of those Metropolitan Division opponents.
Typically, the final preseason recreation or two are get dressed rehearsals for the school squad, however the Caps have a couple of nagging accidents amongst their veteran core, and they are nonetheless in need of to get some other take a look at among the more youthful gamers who’re nonetheless vying for roster spots in what has been a particularly aggressive camp.
Right wing T.J. Oshie suffered an higher frame damage simply previous the midpoint of the second one duration of Wednesday’s recreation in opposition to Detroit. Oshie departed and didn’t go back after soaking up successful alongside the part wall from Wings ahead Joe Velleno.
“He’s day-to-day,” stated Caps trainer Peter Laviolette on Thursday, talking of Oshie. “He got banged up [Wednesday] night. He probably will not play [Saturday]. And then we’ll see how he’s doing. He’s dealing with something, and we’re still trying to get a handle on that.”
Caps defenseman Dmitry Orlov suffered a decrease frame damage on Wednesday, however he used to be ready to complete the sport. Center Lars Eller neglected Friday’s observe on account of sickness. At Saturday’s morning skate forward of the exhibition finale in opposition to the Blue Jackets, simplest Eller used to be lacking. Oshie and Orlov had been each at the ice, albeit in darkish blue non-contact sweaters.
Given their Saturday participation, Laviolette said development for each gamers, however with Wednesday’s season opener in opposition to Boston nonetheless days away, each gamers nonetheless have a while to heal.
“It’s the next steps of the process,” says Laviolette. “The fact that they’re both out here and participating and getting in a good workout, that’s really good for us. Hopefully it continues to go that way.
“They’re nonetheless day by day, however they are out right here. We’ve were given a recreation [tonight] and a convention [Sunday] after which yet another observe after that [on Tuesday], so we’re going to see the place the entirety’s at and spot how they are feeling, after which we’re going to make selections.”
The Caps have acquitted themselves well in the preseason, particularly in their own end where the defense has been sturdy and efficient, and the goaltending has been consistently solid. Washington has been nicked for a total of nine goals against in its five preseason tilts, with four of those nine coming in the exhibition opener against Buffalo back on Sept. 25. The Caps have yielded only four goals against at 5-on-5 in their five previous exhibitions this fall.
“We had combined lineups for the primary 4 video games, however I believed that they performed laborious the ones first 4 video games,” says Laviolette. “The Buffalo recreation, we had been a little bit bit unfastened firstly of the sport, however then we in point of fact tightened that up defensively. The subsequent 3 video games I believed we had been in point of fact tight defensively. [Wednesday] night time, I believed we got here out of the gate gradual within the first duration. But then in the second one and 3rd duration, we picked up the physicality, the rate, the compete, the struggle, and did a in point of fact just right process to win a hockey recreation.
“So I’m happy with the way things have gone, and we’ve got one game left to continue that, to try and make sure that we feel good about what we’ve done in camp, to get ready for game one against Boston.”
Darcy Kuemper gets the beginning this night in internet for Washington, and he’s going to move the gap for the second one instantly recreation.
Washington’s lone legislation loss to this point within the preseason got here by the hands of the Blue Jackets per week in the past in Columbus.
Columbus may be concluding its exhibition slate right here on Saturday night time, however the Jackets had 8 preseason video games in overall. The Blue Jackets input this night’s recreation at the heels of a 7-0 demolition of the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night time in Ohio’s capital town.
The Jackets were given objectives from seven other skaters within the win over the Blues, striking a crooked quantity at the board in each and every duration. Daniil Tarasov stopped all 24 pictures he confronted to document the shutout for Columbus.