Washington Capitals News

Five games into the 2024-25 campaign, the Capitals will continue their goalie rotation and switch back to Lindgren between the pipes on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers, losers of four straight (0-3-1). The 30-year-old Lindgren struggled in his first game of the season, allowing four goals on 32 shots (.875 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils, but rebounded with a stellar effort in his second outing, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%), shutting the door in a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars.

The Capitals will return to Lindgren between the pipes on Thursday after the team recorded their first win in their previous outing with Logan Thompson in net. Lindgren struggled in his first contest, allowing four goals on 32 shots (.875 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils. The Capitals enter action on Thursday as +142 home underdogs against a Dallas Stars team that extended their early-season unbeaten record to 4-0-0 after a 3-2 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks.

Liljegren will make his season debut on Wednesday, sending Conor Timmins to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Liljegren tied a career-high last season with 23 points (3G / 20A) in 55 games.

Milano suffered a -3 plus/minus in only 5:52 time-on-ice in Washington's season-opening 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils and will serve as a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. Jakub Vrana will draw into the lineup for his season debut in favor of Milano.

With Matt Roy expected to miss a "decent amount of time", Dylan McIlrath will step into the Capitals lineup and make his season debut on Tuesday vs. Vegas. The 32-year-old is entering his ninth NHL season but has only appeared in 75 career games across that span, picking up seven points and 133 PIMs.

Thompson will make his Capitals debut on Tuesday against his former team, the Vegas Golden Knights. The 27-year-old Thompson spent his first three seasons with the Golden Knights, posting a solid 2.67 GAA and .912 SV% in 103 appearances (56-32-11). This season, he will likely split time between the pipes in Washington with fellow undrafted netminder, Charlie Lindgren.

Roy exited Saturday's season opener for the Capitals after playing only 8:39 time-on-ice. The 29-year-old Roy signed a six-year contract with the Capitals in the offseason after spending the first six seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Kings.

Chisholm missed the Wilds' first two games to begin the season due to illness but will make his debut on Sunday in Winnipeg as he replaces the injured Jared Spurgeon (lower body). The 24-year-old defensemen appeared in 29 games in 2023-24 and had three goals, eight points and 18 PIMs while averaging only 16:52 TOI/GP.

The Capitals did not provide much of an update on Roy's status post-game other than to say he's "out, lower-body." Expect more clarity on Roy's timeline before Tuesday's game vs. the Golden Knights.

After parting ways with Darcy Kuemper in the offseason, Lindgren has taken over the reins, with Logan Thompson, of the crease for the Washington Capitals. The 30-year-old Lindgren will start the season opener for the Capitals against a New Jersey Devils squad already playing their fourth game of the season. Lindgren had stretches of inconsistency last season but was mostly impressive, posting a 2.67 GAA, .911 SV%, and six shutouts in 50 games (25-16-7). Kuemper had only appeared in 60 total games before last season and is likely to have a heavier workload once again.

Thompson has been away from the team since Monday due to personal reasons but will return to practice on Friday ahead of their season opener on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils. Thompson is expected to share the crease with Charlie Lindgren this season, his first with the Capitals.

Chisholm was absent from Minnesota's final practice before their opener on Thursday vs. Columbus due to an illness and will not be ready for the game as well. The 24-year-old defensemen will be fighting to get into the Wild lineup nightly as he attempts to establish himself as an everyday player after three goals, eight points and 18 PIMs in 29 games played in 2023-24.

Chisholm was absent from Minnesota's final practice before their opener on Thursday vs. Columbus due to an illness and looks to be out for the game as well. The 24-year-old defensemen will be fighting to get into the Wild lineup nightly as he attempts to establish himself as an everyday player after three goals, eight points and 18 PIMs in 29 games played in 2023-24.

It's unclear when Thompson is expected to re-join the Capitals, but their season doesn't open until Saturday, so it's safe to assume he'll be available for their opener. Thompson is expected to share the crease with Charlie Lindgren this season, his first with the Capitals.

Mateiko was Washington's 2024 3rd-round pick (90th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday worth $889,167 AAV. The 18-year-old Latvian winger is expected to return to Saint Johns (QMJHL) for his third season of junior hockey after joining the Sea Dogs from Latvia in 2022-23. Mateiko was drafted after putting up 23 goals, 43 points and 20 PIMs in 49 games in 2023-24.

Muggli was a second-round pick (No.52 overall) in this summer's NHL Draft. The 18-year-old defenseman spent the 2024 season with Zug EV (Switzerland) where he had 12 points (3G / 9A) in 42 games.

Allen was selected in the fifth round (No.136) of the 2023 NHL Draft and spent the 2024 season with the Guelph Storm (OHL). The 19-year-old had two goals and seven assists (nine points) in 25 games in 2023-24.

Chisholm started the 2024 season with the Jets before being claimed off of waivers by the Wild in late-January. The 24-year-old saw more stable minutes in Minnesota, leading to three goals and five assists (eight points) in 29 games after joining the team. He should be the Wild's No.5/No.6 defenseman entering the 2024-25 season.