The Capitals are getting two centers back in the lineup tonight against Buffalo, with Sammi Silber of The District Standard reporting that both Pierre-Luc Dubois and Justin Sourdif will return.
Dubois has been out for the last five games because of illness after putting together a strong opening to his season, posting four points in four games. Sourdif missed two contests with an illness of his own and has one goal in seven games this year after signing an eight-year extension before training camp. Dubois is still on injured reserve, but Washington has an open roster spot, so no corresponding move is needed.
There’s also a notable night ahead for Alex Ovechkin, though it has nothing to do with chasing a milestone. Instead, tonight will be his 10th game of the season, which unlocks a $4.75MM performance bonus. Because the Capitals are only narrowly under the Upper Limit, per PuckPedia, most of that bonus money is expected to hit next year’s salary cap.
In Pittsburgh, Evgeni Malkin will miss tonight’s game against Nashville because of illness, according to team play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff. The 40-year-old has been producing at a high level early, with six goals - tied for the team lead - and three assists in 11 games.
That leaves him second on the Penguins in scoring overall. Avery Hayes, who was recalled earlier today, will take his place in the lineup.
Across the division, there still isn’t a timetable for Islanders center Mathew Barzal’s return, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports. Barzal has been out since the start of training camp with inflammation in his left knee.
The encouraging signs are that the inflammation has gone down and he has been skating lightly on his own, and GM Mathieu Darche said there hasn’t been a setback. Even so, he was expected back by now, and he remains a ways off from returning.
That’s a tough break for the Islanders’ offense, especially after Barzal led the team with 72 points in 81 games last season.
In Other News...
Penguins Let A Hopeful Home Rally Slip Into A Frustrating Loss
A promising push from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton quickly turned into a frustrating night at home, as the Penguins fell 7-3 to Belleville in an AHL matchup that never fully swung back their way. Belleville grabbed the early edge and kept the pressure on, leaving the Penguins chasing the game before a second-period rally briefly gave the building some life.
One of the bigger swings came from an old familiar face, with former Penguin Phil Tomasino helping fuel Bellevilles attack throughout the night. In goal, Jackson Parsons also settled in for the Senators and turned aside the Penguins comeback hopes as the visitors kept control and sent Wilkes-Barre/Scranton away with a loss that felt more lopsided than it first appeared. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Just Got A Brutal Reminder About The East
The Eastern Conference landscape got a little more complicated for anyone tracking the Penguins playoff path, with New Jersey making a move that could ripple well beyond its own locker room. League chatter around the trade and the Devils broader roster planning has only added to the sense that the top end of the East is getting even tougher to navigate, and Pittsburgh is right in the middle of that conversation as it tries to stay in the mix.
For the Penguins, the larger concern is not just one transaction but what it signals about how aggressive contenders are willing to be as the season unfolds. Reports around other NHL developments and player scouting suggest teams are already thinking several steps ahead, and the Devils latest move only reinforces how quickly the balance in the conference can shift. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Already Look Right For Walking Away From Anthony Mantha
Anthony Manthas brief stop in Pittsburgh is already looking like the kind of departure the Penguins were comfortable making. After one season with the club, he signed with the New Jersey Devils on a two-year deal, and the Pens decision not to bring him back fit with their broader aim of getting younger while avoiding a longer-term cap commitment.
The early returns in New Jersey have only sharpened that view. Mantha has been searching for the production that once made him an appealing bet, but his start has been well below the level he showed before, leaving the Devils waiting for more and giving Pittsburgh little reason to second-guess its choice to move on. [Read more 🡒]