Capitals Training Camp: More Tweaks To The Lines, Extras Hold Own Skate

ARLINGTON, V.A. — After a separate group practice for fringe players, the Washington Capitals took the ice for their main skate and saw some shake-ups with the combinations.

Marcus Johansson joined Dylan Strome and Anthony Mantha on the second line, while T.J. Oshie skated with Connor McMichael on his other wing and Lars Eller down the middle. On Monday, Johansson was with Eller and Mantha on the third line, while McMichael and Strome were together with Oshie.

Those second and third lines are interchangeable and can be up to interpretation, but Eller’s line went run second in the rushes.

Here were the full combinations:

Alex Ovechkin-Evgeny Kuznetsov-Connor Brown

Anthony Mantha-Dylan Strome-Marcus Johansson

Connor McMichael-Lars Eller-T.J. Oshie

Conor Sheary-Nic Dowd-Garnet Hathaway

Martin Fehervary-John Carlson

Dmitry Orlov-Nick Jensen

Erik Gustafsson-Trevor van Riemsdyk

Lucas Johansen-Matt Irwin

Darcy Kuemper

Charlie Lindgren

Aliaksei Protas, Joe Snively, Brett Leason, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby and Henrik Borgstrom did not take part in the main practice and again skated in their own group ahead of the 11 a.m. skate.

READ MORE ON WHN: Why Connor McMichael Is under Pressure As Washington Capitals Training Camp Winds Down

Washington faces the Detroit Red Wings in the first of its final two preseason games on Wednesday. It’s unclear what the lineup will look like, but Darcy Kuemper will play in that tilt, per head coach Peter Laviolette. It will be his first home game and second in a Capitals sweater. The extras could also play in Wednesday’s tilt.

For a few Washington players, the final preseason games will be crucial. Protas is still close to winning a roster spot after a stellar offseason. In turn, McMichael needs a strong end to camp to avoid being the odd man out.