Washington Capitals News

Thompson will start for the Golden Knights on Thursday after serving as backup to Adin Hill for three of their four first games (4-0-0). This could be an indication of Thompson's usage going forward, as the Golden Knights seem content with giving their $4.9 million goalie, Hill, the priority in the crease. The defending Stanely Cup Champions have been stout defensively regardless of who has manned their net, outscoring their opposition by a lopsided 14-5 margin. In his only game this season, Thompson saved 22 of 23 shots in a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. The Golden Knights enter action tonight as -111 road favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that has been abysmal defensively, allowing a league-worst 4.67 goals per game.

Lindgren left Monday's morning skate with an undisclosed injury and did not suit up against Calgary that night which has led to him being placed on the injured reserve. The 29-year-old has only started one game this season and is 0-1-0 with a .886 SV% and a 4.00 GAA. Clay Stevenson was recalled in his absence.

Aktell had a goal, and was a -1 plus/minus in two games with Hershey (AHL) and has been recalled to Washington for the first time in his career. The 25-year-old Swede was drafted by Nashville in the fourth round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft (108th overall) but he only crossed the border to North American this season after three years in the SHL. Aktell has a chance to make his NHL debut Saturday.

Thompson will likely start for the Golden Knights on Thursday after serving as backup to Adin Hill for three of their four first games (4-0-0). This could be an indication of Thompson's usage going forward, as the Golden Knights seem content with giving their $4.9 million goalie, Hill, the priority in the crease. The defending Stanely Cup Champions have been stout defensively regardless of who has manned their net, outscoring their opposition by a lopsided 14-5 margin. In his only game this season, Thompson saved 22 of 23 shots in a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. The Golden Knights enter action tonight as -111 road favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that has been abysmal defensively, allowing a league-worst 4.67 goals per game.

No further details have been given in terms of the nature or the expected timeline of the injury, but the Capitals will miss the depth scoring and adept penalty-killing Dowd provides. The 33-year-old centreman tallied 13 goals and 12 assists in 65 games for the Capitals last season, and has managed to score double-digit goals in three straight seasons despite being limited to a fourth-line role. Anthony Mantha will draw back into the lineup in place of Dowd.

Stevenson has been called up for the second time this season and will backup Darcy Kuemper Monday as the Capitals take on the Flames. The 24-year-old goaltender has appeared in two games this season for the Hershey Bears (AHL), with a 1-1-0 record, .900 SV% and a 2.01 GAA. He is replacing Charlie Lindgren, who left practice early Monday with an undisclosed injury.

Lindgren left Washington's morning skate early Monday and will miss their matchup vs. Calgary due to an undisclosed injury. The 29-year-old started Washington's only game this season; picking up a loss after allowing four goals on 35 shots (.886 SV%) vs. Pittsburgh.Clay Stevenson has been called up to replace him as Darcy Kuemper's backup.

Alexeyev did not appear in Washington's only game of the season but is expected to make his 2023-24 debut Monday as the Capitals' take on the Flames at home. The 23-year-old defenseman had five assists, 28 SOG, four PIMs, and a -2 plus/minus through 32 games as a rookie in 2022-23. He should be replacing Lucas Johansen in the Capitals' lineup Monday.

Protas did not appear in Washington's season opening loss to Pittsburgh but is set to make his season debut Monday vs. Calgary. The 22-year-old forward had four goals, 11 assists, 83 SOG, 12 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus in 58 games in his sophomore season in 2022-23. He is expected to replace Anthony Mantha in the Capitals' lineup Monday.

Lindgren left practice early with a presumable ailment, leaving his status unclear on Monday night. Lindgren started the first game of the season, as Darcy Kuemper was away from the team for the birth of his son, and allowed four goals on 35 shots in a 4-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. If Lindgren is unable to suit up as the backup goalie on Monday night, the Capitals might be forced into an emergency call-up from the AHL.

Lindgren will get the nod in the crease for the Capitals' season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins as Darcy Kuemper is away from the team for the birth of his son. Lindgren struggled in his first season with the Capitals, posting a 3.05 GAA and .899 SV% in 31 appearances (13-11-3). The Capitals will be facing a hungry Penguins squad that was held to just two goals in their season-opening loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Clay Stevenson was recalled from the Hershey Bears of the AHL and will serve as backup to Lindgren.

It looks like Lindgren will get the nod in the crease for the Capitals' season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins as Darcy Kuemper is away from the team for the birth of his son. Lindgren struggled in his first season with the Capitals, posting a 3.05 GAA and .899 SV% in 31 appearances (13-11-3). The Capitals will be facing a hungry Penguins squad that was held to just two goals in their season-opening loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Clay Stevenson was recalled from the Hershey Bears of the AHL and will likely serve as backup to Lindgren.

Protas was the odd man out of the Capitals' roster and has been loaned to Hershey (AHL) Friday as they had to call up a third goaltender due to Darcy Kuemper leaving for the birth of his child. The 22-year-old forward is expected to return to Washington as Kuemper also returns and will be looking to build off his four goal, 11 assist, and 83 SOG campaign in 2022-23 across 58 games played.

Amidst the news that Darcy Kuemper may be absent from the Capitals matchup Friday vs. Pittsburgh due to the birth of his child, Clay Stevenson has been recalled from the Hershey Bears (AHL). The 24-year-old netminder was signed as an undrafted free-agent out of Dartmouth Collect (NCAA) ahead of the 2022-23 and has yet to make an NHL appearance. In his first season in the minor leagues he posted a 19-12-3 record with a .916 SV% and a 2.54 GAA for the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) in 2022-23. He is expected to backup Charlie Lindgren if Kuemper is unable to go.

Thompson was 21-13-3 with a .915 SV% and a 2.65 GAA in an injury-riddled 2022-23 with Vegas and will start their second game of the season Thursday in San Jose. The 26-year-old is entering his third NHL season and is expected to split starting time with Adin Hill throughout the season. He draws the San Jose Sharks on the road, who struggled to score in 2022-23 and finished 25th in goals for (233) and 25th in shots per game (29.5).

Philp had the potential to make the Blackhawks' opening night roster but has now been placed on the injured reserve indefinitely with an injured Achilles. The 27-year-old forward appeared in three games for Chicago in 2022-23 and picked up an assist and two PIMs. He played the majority of last season in Rockford, where he had 29 goals, 53 points and a +17 plus/minus in 60 games played.

Backstrom missed 43 games in 2022-23 after having hip resurfacing surgery but says he feels 100% and ready for the start of the Capitals' training camp and is ready to go. The 35-year-old centre had seven goals, 14 assists, 14 PIMs, 59 SOG, and a -25 plus/minus in 39 games in 2022-23 before being placed on the shelf in mid-April. He will hope to continue to make an impact with the Capitals as he enters his 17th NHL season and has 271 goals and 1032 points across 1097 career games played.

Hagelin hadn't played in the NHL since 2021-22 due to an eye injury and announced Wednesday via his Instagram account that he will be retiring from professional hockey. The 35-year-old left-winger leaves the NHL with 110 goals, 186 assists, a +119 plus/minus, and 1429 SOG across 713 games played as well as a 2X Stanley Cup Champion. He played for five franchises including the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, and Los Angeles Kings.

Wilson had 13 goals, nine assists, 82 SOG, 78 PIMs and a -13 plus/minus through 33 games with Washington in 2022-23 after starting the year late due to a knee injury and has signed a seven-year, $45.5 million contract extension ($6,500,000). The 29-year-old bruising right-winger was a 2012 first-round pick (16th overall) and has amassed 128 goals, 295 points and 1,299 PIMs through 680 career games

Duhaime had nine goals, one assist, 80 SOG, 42 PIMs and a +6 plus/minus through 51 games with Minnesota in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $1.1 million AAV contract to avoid arbitration. The 26-year-old right-winger was a fourth-round pick by Minnesota in 2016 (106th overall) and has 15 goals, 27 points and 164 PIMs across 131 career games played.