Washington Capitals News
Ovechkin's cap-hit doesn't change much, going from $9.539M AAV to $9.5M for the next five seasons. Ovechkin currently sits sixth on the all-time goal-scoring list, 164 goals behind Wayne Gretzky for first. A five-year contract will take Ovechkin to 40-years-old and he will need to average 32.8 goals per season to reach Gretzky's mark. He has averaged 52 goals per 82 games over the last three seasons.
Smallman was a fifth-round pick of the Hurricanes in 2015 but has bounced around between the AHL and ECHL since. In 2021, he had two assists in six AHL games and 12 points (6G / 6A) in eight ECHL games. He will not be a factor in the NHL in 2021-22.
Sandin was a surprise scratch from the lineup in Game 4 but will draw right back into the lineup for Game 5. Sandin, who will replace Travis Dermott, has one goal on four shots while averaging 13:55 TOI through his first three games of the series.
Eller missed Game 3 after suffering a lower-body injury in Game 2. Eller was on the ice for Friday's game-day skate, centring the third line and seeing PP2 time. Both are good signs that he will be available for Game 4 but he is officially listed as a game-time decision again.