Yahoo Sports Capitals Notebook: Goalie Rotation Changes, Lineup Notes, Eller's Return, Carbery Warns Team Not To Underestimate Maple Leafs
ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals learned the hard way this season that they can't underestimate any opponent this season, especially when they're coming off a loss that's less than 24 hours old. That was the emphasis of a team meeting on Wednesday ahead of a tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Head coach Spencer Carbery stressed that Toronto, who is coming off a rough 3-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators, would be a major threat as it looks to get back to its game.
"I keep watching these back-to-backs... these teams seem to be having a lot of success in situations where everybody’s written them off. Hopefully, we’ve learned from (our) experience," Carbery said, adding, "Toronto is going to come out with a ton of energy and enthusiasm.”
Washington's lineup will look the same as it was the last game, except Hendrix Lapierre will draw back into the lineup for Mike Sgarbossa, who was re-assigned to the AHL's Hershey Bears to make space on the roster for Lars Eller.
Eller was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday in exchange for draft picks. He was not at the morning skate and will not play, but he will be at Capital One Arena on Wednesday for the game.
"We're getting the band back together," Tom Wilson said with a smile.
Logan Thompson will get the start as the goalie rotation gets a shake-up. It will be the first time this season that a goaltender will start two consecutive games; Thompson has earned it with a .948 save percentage through his last three starts, and a new rotation would also have him scheduled to start the team's game against his former Vegas Golden Knights.
Here are the projected lines. Sonny Milano remains out with an upper-body injury, and there is no update or timeline on his return. Alex Alexeyev and Dylan McIlrath are the healthy scratches, along with Eller.
Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Aliaksei Protas
Connor McMichael-Pierre-Luc Dubois-Tom Wilson
Andrew Mangiapane-Hendrix Lapierre-Jakub Vrana
Brandon Duhaime-Nic Dowd-Taylor Raddysh
Jakob Chychrun-John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin-Matt Roy
Martin Fehervary-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Logan Thompson
Charlie Lindgren
Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. in D.C.
