Backstrom will not play Sunday due to a non-COVID illness.
Washington Capitals News
Sandin (knee/COVID-19) will return to the Maple Leafs lineup on Saturday.
Sandin has not played since December 5th due to a knee injury but was also placed on the COVID-19 protocol list during that time. Sandin will be back on the Maple Leafs blueline and second power-play unit vs. the Senators and has eight assists and a plus-5 rating in 25 games this season.
Beauvillier was activated from COVID-19 protocol list on Friday and may play Saturday.
Both Beauvillier and Oliver Wahlstrom were activated and head coach Barry Trotz said it's possible that both will play on Saturday but "one more likely that the other." Monitor Beauvillier's status as the Islanders hit the ice for warmups at 1:30 PM ET.
Eller will not play Friday due to a non-COVID illness.
Alexeyev has been assigned to the taxi squad.
T. Raddysh has been added to the COVID-19 protocol list.
Raddysh will be replaced by Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, who was activated from the protocol list this morning. Ross Colton should move up to replace him on the line with Steven Stamkos.
The Capitals have activated Tom Wilson (upper-body) from IR and is expected to play Wednesday.
Wilson has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury but is expected to play Wednesday vs. the Predators. Wilson, who has nine goals and 15 assists (24 points) in 27 games, will skate with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin.
The Capitals have activated T.J. Oshie from COVID-19 protocol and is expected to play Wednesday.
Oshie missed the Capitals' last game while in COVID-19 protocol but is expected to play tonight vs. the Predators. Oshie, who has 11 points (4G / 7A) in 14 games this season, is expected to skate with Nicklas Backstrom and Conor Sheary.
The Capitals have activated Nicklas Backstrom from COVID-19 protocol and is expected to play Wednesday.
Backstrom missed the last two games while in COVID-19 protocol but is expected to play tonight vs. the Predators. Backstrom, who had one assist and five shots on goal in his season debut is expected to skate on the second line with T.J. Oshie and Conor Sheary.
The Islanders added Anthony Beauvillier to the COVID-19 protocol list on Sunday (Dec.26).
On the day that the Islanders activated players like Mathew Barzal, they also added four forwards to the protocol list, including Beauvillier. This group is expected to be out until next Wednesday.
Carlsson was added to the COVID-19 protocol list on Sunday.
The Blue Jackets are in Buffalo on Monday and they'll be without Carlsson, Jack Roslovic and Boone Jenner, who entered protocol on Sunday.
Oshie has been placed on the COVID-19 protocol list.
Backstrom has entered COVID-19 protocol and will not play Friday.
Goalie Start
Lindgren will start Friday vs. the Stars.
The Capitals have recalled Zach Fucale from Hershey (AHL).
Fucale posted a shutout in his NHL debut earlier in the season. The team is calling his promotion "precautionary" so it's unclear whether or not he will be used as a backup on Friday. Fucale has gone 4-2-2 with a 2.80 GAA and .889 SV% in eight games with Hershey this season.
Goalie Start
Lindgren was the first goalie off of the ice at the Blues morning skate.
The Panthers recalled Chase Priskie from Charlotte (AHL).
Backstrom has been activated from the non-roster list and is expected to make his season debut on Wednesday.
The good news for the Capitals is that Backstrom will make his season debut on Wednesday. The bad news is that they will be without Evgeny Kuznetsov, who was added to the COVID-19 protocol list. With Kuznetsov out, Backstrom may centre the top line next to Alex Ovechkin. Backstrom had 15 goals and 38 assists (53 points) in 55 games a season ago.
The Blackhawks have replaced Henrik Borgstrom (illness) on IR.
Borgstrom is dealing with a non-COVID illness that will force him to miss a second straight game on Wednesday. The move to IR means he will miss at least one more game but is eligible to return to the lineup Saturday in Dallas if he's healthy.
van Riemsdyk (COVID-19) travelled to Chicago and is expected to play Wednesday.
van Riemsdyk missed the last four games while in COVID-19 protocol but is set to play Wednesday in Chicago. van Riemsdyk will be back in a familiar spot on the Capitals' third pairing and comes in with seven assists in 24 games this season.
