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...
Capitals Got The Win But Another Problem Didnt Go Away
Alex Tuch came through with a big night in a familiar building, scoring twice to help the Capitals rally for a 4-3 overtime win over the Sabres. Dylan Strome matched him with two goals of his own as Washington dug out of an early hole and found a way to leave with two points despite spending much of the night chasing the game.
For a team trying to steady itself, the result mattered more than the style points, but the same defensive issues that have surfaced before were still there in plain view. Washington got the comeback it needed and the overtime finish it wanted, yet the win did not erase the lingering concern that made the night feel more complicated than the final score suggested. [Read more 🡒]
Capitals Make A Blue Line Move Fans Need To Watch
Fridays waiver wire had a little extra intrigue for teams looking to patch up the back end, and Washington was among the clubs paying close attention. The only two defensemen available were both claimed, with Nashville taking Daemon Hunt from Minnesota and the Capitals bringing in Jack St. Ivany from Winnipeg, keeping each player on an NHL roster and giving Washington another name to sort through on the blue line.
For a Capitals group that is already working without Rasmus Sandin and Vincent Desharnais, any added defense depth is worth watching closely. St. Ivany arrives with a chance to factor into the conversation quickly, and while the weekend brought more waived players into the mix, the first move alone was enough to signal that Washington is still monitoring options for the back end. [Read more 🡒]