Capitals News
Capitals Updates: Carlson & Orlov Injury Status, Aube-Kubel To Debut
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Capitals will be back in action and on a mission to snap a four-game losing skid against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, but they will do so shorthanded and with some new faces drawing in once again.
Head coach Peter Laviolette provided an update on John Carlson and Dmitry Orlov, who are both working through lower-body injuries. Carlson will not play against the Oilers, while Orlov will be a game-time decision. Carlson remains on the injured reserve but was a go for full contact at the team’s optional morning skate. Orlov is day-to-day after suffering an injury in Saturday’s loss to the Arizona Coyotes.
If neither play, it will be the first time since 2014-15 that the Capitals will not have one of their top-2 defensemen in the mix. If both are out, Lucas Johansen will be the next man up. He was skating on a pairing with Matt Irwin on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Aube-Kubel will make his Washington debut. The 26-year-old was picked up off waivers on Saturday and was skating on the fourth line with Nic Dowd and Garnet Hathaway on Sunday. He said he felt some chemistry with that line and will look to make an impact for the banged-up Capitals.
“I hated to play against them when I was in Philly… it’s nice to build chemistry on that,” Aube-Kubel said of the fourth line.
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Sonny Milano will remain in the lineup as well against Edmonton, per Laviolette. It’s unclear who will draw out with Milano and Aube-Kubel remaining in the mix. However, Connor McMichael and Joe Snively were extras at Sunday’s practice.
Here were the lines from Sunday:
Alex Ovechkin-Evgeny Kuznetsov-Conor Sheary
Sonny Milano-Dylan Strome-Marcus Johansson
Aliaksei Protas-Lars Eller-Anthony Mantha
Nicolas Aube-Kubel-Nic Dowd-Garnet Hathaway
Erik Gustafsson-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Martin Fehervary-Nick Jensen
Lucas Johansen-Matt Irwin
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