Washington Capitals News

The Capitals snapped a three-game losing skid yesterday with a 4-3 win over the Bruins and will turn to Thompson between the pipes on Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 28-year-old Thompson has been excellent this season but has allowed three or more goals in three straight games, posting a subpar .843 SV%. He has a 2.43 GAA and .912 SV% in 42 games this season (31-5-6). The Capitals enter Wednesday's contest as +186 road underdogs against a Hurricanes team that is 8-2-0 in their last 10 games.

The Capitals have lost three straight and will hope to return to the win column on Tuesday with Lindgren tending the twine against the Boston Bruins. The 31-year-old Lindgren allowed three goals on 20 shots (.850 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. He has a 2.65 GAA and .897 SV% in 32 games this season (16-12-3). The Capitals enter Tuesday's contest as sizeable -204 road favorites against a struggling Bruins team amid an eight-game losing skid (0-7-1).

With Matt Roy (personal) not play on Tuesday, McIlrath will draw back into Washington's lineup on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. The 32-year-old McIlrath is averaging 10:54 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) in 11 games this season.

Roy has been a staple on Washington's blue line, scoring 24 points (3G / 21A) in 63 games this season, but will not play on Tuesday, tending to personal matters. Dylan McIlrath will draw into the lineup as Roy's replacement.

Smallman has yet to play an NHL game but has become an effective contributor at the AHL level for several seasons. The 28-year-old forward has 33 points (9G / 24A) in 55 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL) this season.

Leonard was the eight-overall pick of the Washington Capitals in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The talented 20-year-old forward playing collegiate hockey with Boston University (H-East) the previous two seasons, including scoring 49 points (30G / 19A) in 37 games in the 2024-25 campaign.

Leonard was the eight-overall pick of the Washington Capitals in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The talented 20-year-old forward playing collegiate hockey with Boston University (H-East) the previous two seasons, including scoring 49 points (30G / 19A) in 37 games in the 2024-25 campaign.

Gucciardi was a seventh-round pick of the Washington Capitals in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft that opted to played collegiate hockey the past few seasons. The 22-year-old defenseman scored 16 points (6G / 10A) in 37 games with Michigan State University (Big-10) this season.

Dunne is an undrafted 26-year-old forward that played two games with the Sabres this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. He has 26 points (9G / 17A) in 58 games with the Rochester Americans (AHL).

Dunne will slot in for Jason Zucker, who is out due to a personal matter. Dunne has appeared in just one other game for the Sabres this season and is yet to register a point through 15 career NHL games.

Lindgren has not played since March 20th and will return to the crease on Thursday against his hometown team, the Minnesota Wild. The 31-year-old Lindgren was solid in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. He has a 2.63 GAA and .898 SV% in 31 appearances this season (16-11-3). The Capitals enter the action on Thursday as -140 road favorites against a Minnesota team outscored 8-1 during a two-game losing skid.

Jason Zucker (personal) will not play on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, allowing Dunne to re-enter the lineup. The 26-year-old Dunne has only played one game with the Sabres this season, recording a -2 plus/minus in 7:16 time-on-ice.

McIlrath has played 11 games with the Capitals this season, scoring two points (0G / 2A). The 32-year-old has nine points (3G / 6A) in 86 career games in the NHL.