WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals are finally back home after a long time on the road, but with just one day of rest folloiwng their return from the west coast, face a tall task against the division rival Columbus Blue Jackets at home before some time off.
Here’s what to know before puck drop at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena.
The Capitals will be without rookie Ryan Leonard for an “extended period of time” after he was left bloodied and injured following a heavy hit from Jacob Trouba back on Friday in Anaheim. Bogdan Trineyev is up from Hershey as the extra forward, as Sonny Milano will draw back into the mix.
Meanwhile, Charlie Lindgren, injured at Friday’s morning skate, remains out with an upper-body injury, as does John Carlson, who has been dealing with an upper-body ailment for the last three games.
Here are the line combinations:
Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Connor McMichael
Aliaskei Protas-Justin Sourdif-Tom Wilson
Anthony Beauvillier-Nic Dowd-Ethen Frank
Brandon Duhaime-Hendrix Lapierre-Sonny Milano
Martin Fehervary-Rasmus Sandin
Jakob Chychrun-Matt Roy
Declan Chisholm-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Logan Thompson
Clay Stevenson
Aliaksei Protas is on a four-game point streak.
Tom Wilson has scored in five of the last seven games, including game-opening goals in three of the last four overall.
Alex Ovechkin has points in six of the last seven.
Matt Roy has points in three of his last four games.
Dylan Strome has points in back-to-back games.