With Washington on a back-to-back, Lindgren will take the crease Wednesday after backing up Darcy Kuemper on Tuesday. The 30-year-old has deservedly earned the majority of the Capitals' starts of late as he's put up a 3-2-1 record, and .928 SV% in his last seven games played. He takes on the Colorado Avalanche on the road Wednesday, who have won five of their last seven games and rank 2nd in the NHL in goals per game (3.77).
Lapierre recorded an assist in 6:30 time-on-ice in his last contest but was a healthy scratch on Saturday and has subsequently been reassigned to the Hershey Bears of the AHL. The 21-year-old has seven points (2G / 5A) in 25 games this season.
Roy did not play on Monday due to personal reasons but will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. Roy has four points (2G / 2A) in his last nine games.
Van Riemsdyk has been a healthy scratch in two of the last three games but will join Rasmus Sandin as Capitals' blueliners making their return to the lineup on Tuesday. Van Riemsdyk has one point (0G / 1A) in his last seven games while averaging over 18 minutes time-on-ice. Ethan Bear and Alexander Alexeyev are expected to be healthy scratches on Tuesday.
Alexeyev has played three straight games for the Capitals and has been held off the scoresheet while averaging over 16 minutes of time on ice. Ethan Bear will also be a healthy scratch for the Capitals as Rasmus Sandin and Trevor van Riemsdyk will draw back into the lineup.
Bear will exit the lineup for the first time since joining the Capitals team at the end of December. In 11 games, Bear has two points (1G / 1A), 19 shots, and 17 blocks. Alexander Alexeyev will also be a healthy scratch for the Capitals as Rasmus Sandin and Trevor van Riemsdyk will draw back into the lineup.
Sandin will play his first game since January 3rd, joining Trevor van Riemsdyk as Capitals' blueliners making their return to the lineup on Tuesday. Sandin was on a hot streak before his injury, scoring five points (0G / 5A) in his last five games. Ethan Bear and Alexander Alexeyev are expected to be healthy scratches on Tuesday.
Roy will get Monday's day off after his wife gave birth to their first child earlier in the day. Brandt Clarke will take Roy's place in the Kings' lineup.
Adin Hill is nearing his return and could play tomorrow tonight on the back end of a back-to-back, but the Golden Knights will ride with Thompson on Monday against the New Jersey Devils. The Golden Knights are +107 road underdogs against a Devils team that has lost three of their last four (1-3-0) and is coming off a disappointing 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. Thompson has won three straight contests, allowing two or fewer goals in each, posting a stellar .956 SV%.
Protas has performed well in a depth role for the Capitals this season and has been rewarded with a five-year, $17-million dollar extension. The 23-year-old Belarusian was the 91st-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, and split the last two seasons between Washington and Hershey (AHL) before establishing himself as a full-time NHL player in 2023-24. He has three goals and 15 assists in 42 games this season while playing just over 13 minutes a night.
van Riemsdyk will get the chance to play on Thursday in place of the injured Joel Edmundson (undisclosed). van Riemsdyk has no goals and seven assists in 36 games this season.
Ovechkin has missed the last three games due to a lower-body injury, and his status remains up in the air ahead of Thursday's matchup against the St. Louis Blues. Before his injury, Ovechkin was riding a six-game point streak, scoring seven points (2G / 5A) in that span.
Thompson will start the fourth straight game for the Golden Knights as they continue to be cautious with Adin Hill (undisclosed), who has not played for the last month. Thompson was stellar in his last outing, saving 34 of 35 shots (.971 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators. The 26-year-old Thompson has allowed three or fewer goals in each of his last four games (3-1-0), posting a tremendous .943 SV%. The Golden Knights are +115 home underdogs on Thursday against the Metropolitan division-leading New York Rangers.
Lindgren will return to the crease on Thursday after watching Darcy Kuemper record a 2-0 shutout victory over the Anaheim Ducks in the last game for the Capitals. As he has been for most of the season, Lindgren has been excellent in his last two games since returning from injury (1-1-0), allowing only four total goals and posting a stellar .931 SV%. The Capitals are slight -109 home favourites against Lindgren's former club, the St. Louis Blues, amid a two-game losing streak.
