Capitals Recall Leason, Assign Pilon Prior To Tilt With Kraken

The Washington Capitals made a couple of roster moves prior to the final game of their West Coast swing against the Seattle Kraken on Sunday. After re-assigning Brett Leason to Hershey on Sunday, the team called the right-wing back up on Sunday, while assigning center Garrett Pilon to Hershey.

Leason was originally sent back down after T.J. Oshie and Nic Dowd came off the injured reserve for Saturday’s tilt with the San Jose Sharks. Pilon, meanwhile, drew out of the lineup and was the team’s extra forwards.

Leason has two goals and three points through 10 games so far this season. Pilon had suited up for two games with Lars Eller unexpectedly entering the COVID-19 protocol, registering his first NHL goal against the Anaheim Ducks. On Saturday, head coach Peter Laviolette Eller is quarantining in Anaheim and did not travel with the team to L.A. or San Jose.

READ MORE ON WHN: Takeaways From the Capitals’ 4-0 Win Over San Jose

It’s unclear what the move means, but the Capitals still have 13 healthy forwards right now. Anthony Mantha remains out indefinitely following shoulder surgery, and Nicklas Backstrom is still on the LTIR and skating on his own in full gear back in D.C. Eller, as of now, is still on protocol and is not listed on the roster.

Here were the lines for the matchup against the Sharks. Washington did not hold a morning skate on Sunday. Kraken alum Vitek Vanecek is likely to start with Samsonov having started and dazzled with a shutout on Saturday.

Alex Ovechkin-Evgeny Kuznetsov-Tom Wilson

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby-Connor McMichael-T.J. Oshie

Conor Sheary-Aliaksei Protas-Daniel Sprong

Carl Hagelin-Nic Dowd-Garnet Hathaway

Martin Fehervary-John Carlson

Dmitry Orlov-Nick Jensen

Trevor van Riemsdyk-Justin Schultz