Clarke played three games in a row towards the end of January, his longest stretch of the season, but has been out of the lineup since January 26th. In six games this season, Clarke has one point (0G / 1A) while averaging 16:15 time-on-ice.
Charlie Lindgren started in the Capitals' return from the All-Star break on Tuesday but did not finish the contest. Kuemper entered the game in relief of Lindgren, saving 15 of 17 shots (.882 SV%) in an eventual 5-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Kuemper has been wildly inconsistent this season, highlighted by his performances in his last two starts, in which he allowed five goals in one contest and recorded a shutout in the other. As such, the Capitals are sizeable +237 road underdogs heading into action against the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.
Jeannot has not played since January 6th, missing nine games with an upper-body injury, but returned to practice on Monday. The 26-year-old Jeannot had been held off the scoresheet in eight straight games while recording only seven shots on goal before his injury.
Lewis recorded an assist, snapping a 15-game pointless streak, on Sunday while playing 11:36 time-on-ice. Lewis will skate with Alex Turcotte and Carl Grundstrom on the Kings' fourth line after being a game-time decision on Wednesday against the Nashville Predators.
Rittich will start for the second straight game as the reeling Kings look for a solution to their losing woes. The Kings have lost 14 of their last 16 (2-9-5), and their only two wins have come with Rittich between the pipes. Rittich has played well for the Kings, allowing three or fewer goals in five of his last six outings (2-1-2), posting a respectable .916 SV%. The Kings are -115 road favourites against a Nashville Predators team riding a two-game losing skid.
Ty Emberson will be the odd man out on Wednesday, allowing Burroughs to re-enter the Sharks' lineup. Before missing Tuesday's game against the Seattle Kraken, Burroughs played six straight, recording one goal, seven shots, and 13 hits.
Lewis recorded an assist, snapping a 15-game pointless streak, on Sunday while playing 11:36 time-on-ice. Lewis has spent most of the season playing on a line with Carl Grundstrom and Blake Lizotte and it will be a game-time decision on Wednesday against the Nashville Predators.
After missing two straight games with an illness, Byfield will draw back into the lineup for the Kings on Wednesday evening. Before his injury, Byfield was riding a three-game point streak, with four points (2G / 2A) while playing on the top line, as he has for most of the season, with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe.
Rittich will start for the second straight game as the reeling Kings look for a solution to their losing woes. The Kings have lost 14 of their last 16 (2-9-5), and their only two wins have come with Rittich between the pipes. Rittich has played well for the Kings, allowing three or fewer goals in five of his last six outings (2-1-2), posting a respectable .916 SV%. The Kings are -115 road favourites against a Nashville Predators team riding a two-game losing skid.
Byfield will come out of the Kings lineup for their game in Colorado on Friday. With Byfield unavailable, Arthur Kaliyev will draw back into the Kings lineup and Alex Laferriere will move up to the top line with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe.
With the return of Matt Roy (personal), Jordan Spence was the odd man out of the Kings' lineup Wednesday vs. Buffalo. The 22-year-old has yet to find the back of the net in 2023-24 but has a career high 14 assists, 49 SOG, four PIMs and a +7 plus/minus across 40 games played.
Kuemper served as the backup for the last two Capitals' games but will return to the crease on Tuesday against his former club, the Minnesota Wild. Kuemper is 4-5-1 in his career against Minnesota, with a 2.78 GAA and .908 SV%, well below his career average. Taking that into consideration, along with the Capitals being shut out 3-0 to the St. Louis Blues in their last game, the Capitals are +147 road underdogs on Tuesday against the Wild, who are riding a two-game winning streak.
