Dowd missed Monday's game but was able to play Wednesday. Dowd took a spill at the morning skate and is questionable to play Friday. Brett Leason will make his NHL debut if Dowd can't play.
Oshie is expected to miss multiple weeks with a lower-body injury that he suffered vs. the Red Wings on Wednesday. Moving him to IR opens up a roster spot for the Capitals to recall Brett Leason from Hershey (AHL).
Borgstrom is now the fifth player and eighth member of the Blackhawks' organization to land in COVID-19 protocol. Borgstrom can test out of protocol before Wednesday's game, but consider him questionable vs. the Maple Leafs.
Nic Dowd is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, so Lapierre will draw back into the bottom-6 on Monday. Lapierre scored a goal in his NHL debut and has picked up two shots and two PIMS in two career games.
Dowd did not travel to Ottawa for Monday's game and is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. With Dowd out, Lars Eller will shift to the fourth line in his spot and Hendrix Lapierre will draw back into the lineup.
Milano was recalled from the AHL on Tuesday and will draw into the Ducks lineup on Thursday. Milano is expected to replace Max Comtois on a line with Ryan Getzlaf.
Strome has been a healthy scratch for the first four games of the season but will replace Philipp Kurashev in the lineup on Thursday. Strome had nine goals and eight assists (17 points) in 40 games last season.
It's unclear what the plan for Priskie is, a Panthers' regular must be banged up. Priskie has one assist in two AHL games so far this season and if he ends up playing Thursday, it will be his NHL debut.
Backstrom has begun skating but head coach Peter Laviolette said that he is in the "beginning" of the rehab process, suggesting that he is still far from a season debut. Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre are expected to continue to fill the hole left by Backstrom's injury.
Strome’s 2021-22 season will get off to a tough start, as he fell down the depth chart in training camp and will be a healthy scratch in Colorado.
Lapierre was selected No.22 overall in the 2020 draft and cracked the Capitals lineup out of training camp with Nicklas Backstrom (hip) sidelined. Lapierre had eight goals and 23 assists (31 points) in 21 QMJHL goals last season and picked up five assists in four preseason games. Lapierre will start his NHL career as the Capitals third-line centre, with T.J. Oshie and Conor Sheary on his wings.
Ovechkin has been dealing with a minor lower-body injury but was on the ice for Wednesday’s morning skate and it appears he will be available for the Capitals’ season opener. However, Ovechkin told reporters he did not know if he was playing tonight, so consider him a game-time decision.
The Capitals did not provide much clarity on the severity of Backstrom's injury during the preseason but announced on Tuesday that he will be moved to LTIR. The move will keep him out for at least 10 games or 24 days. Hendrix Lapierre appears to be the front runner to replace him down the middle to open the season.
