Capitals Notebook: McMichael Returns To Center, Friday Marks Huge Game For Forward Competition, Lindgren's Return

WASHINGTON — Friday will mark the biggest day of training camp yet for the Washington Capitals, as the forward competition comes to an apparent head while a new-look lineup takes center stage for a tilt with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Alex Ovechkin's top trio with Dylan Strome and Andrew Mangiapane will remain in tact, as will the Jakob Chychrun-John Carlson defensive pairing, but beyond that, head coach Spencer Carbery made some notable tweaks.

The biggest is that Connor McMichael will return to center after spending the start of training camp in his projected spot for the season on the second-line left wing alongside Pierre-Luc Dubois and Tom Wilson.

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For Carbery, it's nothing to read too much into, and instead, a way to keep McMichael fresh at his natural position while helping boost the team's roster hopefuls on the wing.

“I want Mikey to be able to stay fresh with playing in the middle. He’s played every day of camp thus far for two weeks on the wing. I’ve really liked him there, I feel like it’s been seamless. Feel like his speed isn’t effected there… I’ve noticed him every day, even playing the wing," Carbery said. "So he’s done a great job playing the wing early in camp, I've liked his camp. I just want him to still be involved playing center. That’s the objective tonight playing the middle."

McMichael will play between Jakub Vrana and Ethen Frank, who are both vying for a roster spot.

Related: Vrana Has 'Positive Feeling' About His Camp So Far With Capitals, Ready To Lay Everything On The Line Down The Stretch: 'I Want The Spot'

Meanwhile, fellow hopeful Ivan Miroshnichenko will go to work on a third line with Henrik Rybinski, who's had a strong camp so far, and Sonny Milano, while Andrew Cristall and Pierrick Dubé will get another chance to stand out as they play with Mike Sgarbossa.

On defense, Alex Alexeyev and Vincent Iorio will play together on the second pairing, and Ethan Bear will play with Nick Leivermann on the third pairing as Carbery challenges him to take ownership.

Charlie Lindgren will play the full game for the Capitals, with Clay Stevenson backing up. It marks Lindgren's first appearance of the preseason and first game since falling to the New York Rangers in the first round of last year's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Here are the full lines, via NHL.com's Tom Gulitti:

Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Andrew Mangiapane

Jakub Vrana-Connor McMichael-Ethen Frank

Sonny Milano-Henrik Rybinski-Ivan Miroshnichenko

Andrew Cristall-Mike Sgarbossa-Pierrick Dubé

Jakob Chychrun-John Carlson

Alex Alexeyev-Vincent Iorio

Nick Leivermann-Ethan Bear

Charlie Lindgren

Clay Stevenson

Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena.

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