Washington Capitals News

Ovechkin was forced to leave Monday's contest in Utah after a knee-on-knee collision with Jack McBain and is being evaluated. Washington has a day off on Tuesday after playing back-to-back contests, and is expected to know more about the injury then. The Great 8 currently leads the NHL in goals with 15 after his two goal performance on Monday and is 27 goals awat from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time record (894).

Fresh off a 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights last night, the Capitals will switch to Lindgren between the pipes on Monday against the Utah Hockey Club. Lindgren has been the less consistent of the two Capitals goalies this season but has been serviceable, posting a 2.66 GAA and .897 SV% in eight games (4-4-0). The Capitals enter the action on Monday as slight -102 road underdogs against Utah HC.

Thompson will start on Sunday against his former team, the Vegas Golden Knights. The 27-year-old Thompson has been solid between the pipes this season, posting a 2.71 GAA and .906 SV% in eight games (7-0-1). He saved 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Golden Knights earlier this season.

Logan Thompson suffered his first loss of the season on Wednesday, and the Capitals will revert to Lindgren between the pipes on Friday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 30-year-old Lindgren has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign, highlighted by a 2.76 GAA and .897 SV% in seven outings (4-3-0). The Capitals enter the action on Friday as +149 road underdogs against an Avalanche club welcoming Valeri Nichushkin, Jonathan Drouin, and Miles Wood back into their lineup.

Lars Eller will make his 2024-25 debut with the Capitals on Friday, resulting in Lapierre being a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Lapierre is averaging 10:25 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) in 12 games this season.

After being acquired from the Penguins on Tuesday night, Eller is expected to make he second debut with the Capitals on Friday against the Colorado Avalanche. Before the trade, the 35-year-old Eller had seven points (4G / 3A) in 17 games with the Penguins. Hendrix Lapierre will draw out of the lineup.

For the first time this season, the Capitals will stray away from their even goalie rotation and turn to Thompson between the pipes for consecutive games. The 27-year-old Thompson has been tremendous in his first season as a Capital, yet to lose a game (7-0-0), posting a solid 2.55 GAA and .910 SV%. The Capitals own a +19 goal differential through 14 games this season (10-4-0) and enter Wednesday's contest as -135 home favorites against a Toronto Maple Leafs club defeated 3-0 last night by the Ottawa Senators.

With Michael Sgarbossa being reassigned to Hershey (AHL) and Lars Eller not expected to be ready to make his debut, Lapierre will likely re-enter the lineup on Wednesday. Lapierre is yet to score a goal but does have two assists in 11 games this season.

After being acquired from the Penguins on Tuesday night, Eller is not expected to be ready in time to make his debut on Wednesday. With Michael Sgarbossa being reassigned to Hershey (AHL), Hendrix Lapierre will likely draw back into the lineup.

Sgarbossa's reassignment makes room on the Capitals roster for the newly acquired Lars Eller. Sgarbossa has impressed in his limited time with the Caps this season, registering one goal and one assist in three games.

The trade may signify Pittsburgh's position as sellers and comes on the heels of a 7-1 blowout defeat at the hands of the Stars on Monday. Eller tallied 19 goals and 19 assists in 99 regular season games across two seasons in Pittsburgh. He returns to Washington where he's previously spent parts of seven seasons, registering 208 points in 488 games from 2016 to 2023.