Washington Capitals News

The Capitals have lost six of their last 10 (4-3-3) and hope to enter the Holiday Break on a high note, with Thompson tending the twine against the New York Rangers. The 28-year-old Thompson has been stellar this season, posting a 2.09 GAA and .924 SV% in 25 games (14-8-3). He has two shutouts in his last five games (2-2-1). The Capitals enter Tuesday's contest as -163 home favorites against a Rangers team that is tied for the league lead with 13 road wins.

Liljegren did not play in San Jose's most recent game and will remain out of the lineup on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 26-year-old defenseman has missed several multi-game stints due to injuries in the last month. He has four assists in 28 games this season.

Lindgren allowed five goals on 32 shots in the Capitals' loss in Minnesota on Tuesday. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Lindgren, who is 4-1-1 with an .899 SV% since the beginning on November. Today he'll face the Red Wings on the second-half of a home-and-home, and Washington heads into Detroit as +102 underdogs.

Lindgren allowed five goals on 32 shots in the Capitals' loss in Minnesota on Tuesday. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Lindgren, who is 4-1-1 with an .899 SV% since the beginning on November. Today he'll face the Red Wings on the second-half of a home-and-home, and Washington heads into Detroit as +102 underdogs.

Trineyev recently made his NHL debut, going without a point in two games with the Capitals. He returned to the AHL, where he has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 16 games with Hershey (AHL). Ivan Miroshnichenko has been recalled from Hershey in a corresponding move.

Miroshnichenko was drafted 20th overall by the Capitals in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He has spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL so far, scoring nine points (4G/5A) in 12 games. Bogdan Trineyev has been loaned to Hershey in a corresponding move.

Leonard is only two weeks into his initial three-to-four week recovery timeline and is seemingly slightly ahead of schedule, returning to practice on Friday. The 21-year-old rookie was starting to come into his own before his injury, scoring 10 points (4G / 6A) in his last nine games.

Trineyev will slot in for Hendrix Lapierre (undisclosed). He'll skate with Nic Dowd and Brandon Duhaime on Washington's fourth line.

The Capitals were atop the Eastern Conference one week ago, but after losing three straight (0-2-1), they find themselves in a Wild Card spot in an ultra-tight standings race. That said, Thompson has been outstanding for Washington this season, posting a 2.09 GAA and .922 SV% in 23 games (13-7-3). Better yet, he has a 1.90 GAA and .940 SV% in his last eight outings (5-1-2). The Capitals enter the action on Thursday as -150 home favorites against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that narrowly defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in a 3-2 come-from-behind win on Tuesday to snap a two-game losing skid.

Sonny Milano will draw back into Washington's lineup on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild, resulting in Trineyev being a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Trineyev made his NHL debut in Washington's most recent game, scoring zero points while playing 11:45 time-on-ice.

Lindgren returns to the Capitals' crease for only the second time in three weeks despite a solid performance in his previous outing, saving 23 of 24 shots (.958 SV%) in a 7-1 win over the San Jose Sharks. The 31-year-old Lindgren has been serviceable in a supporting role this season, but has been a distant second to starting netminder Logan Thompson, posting a 2.90 GAA and .893 SV% in 10 games (5-3-1). The Capitals enter Tuesday's contest as +100 road underdogs against a Minnesota team that has outscored its opposition 18-7 during a four-game winning streak.

Lindgren has been sidelined for the last week due to an upper-body injury, but should return to the lineup, at least in a backup role, on the teams upcoming two-game road trip. The 31-year-old Lindgren has a 2.90 GAA and .893 SV% in 10 appearances this season (5-3-1).