ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals have a few days to go until the Olympic break, and Tom Wilson and Logan Thompson are well prepared for the games in Milan Cortina.
Wilson broke in his Team Canada Bauer gloves and Nike pants at Monday’s morning skate, and was also wearing Warroad’s undershirt with neck protection, which is required at the games. Thompson rocked his new setup featuring a Team Canada mask, glove, blocker and pads.
Photo courtesy of the Washington Capitals/X
The Capitals have three games to go until the Olympic break, and last play on Thursday against the Nashville Predators before Wilson and Thompson, along with defenseman Martin Fehervary, representing Slovakia, head overseas.
Washington’s final circuit before the break, though, begins with a meaningful Monday showdown with the Metro Division rival New York Islanders, who hold that third-place spot that D.C. is chasing down after falling behind in the month of January.
The Capitals will again be shorthanded, with Thompson out for Monday as well as Tuesday’s tilt with the Philadelphia Flyers (though he is travelling). The plan is for Thompson to play on Thursday. Connor McMichael (week-to-week, upper-body) and Charlie Lindgren (lower-body) remain out through the Olympic break.
Clay Stevenson will get the start on Monday, and Garin Bjorklund could potentially make his NHL debut Tuesday unless coach Spencer Carbery chooses to go with Stevenson twice in a row, something more commonly seen at the AHL level that he’s done multiple times this season and throughout his career.
Martin Fehervary, who welcomed a baby girl with his girlfriend on Saturday, will be back in the lineup. Matt Roy, who is recovering from a lower-body injury, is a game-time decision, and Thompson will go on IR retroactive to last Thursday if Roy can play.
Up front, Bogdan Trineyev will be the healthy scratch. Pierre-Luc Dubois is still working toward his return and was a full participant at morning skate, but is more than likely to return after the break.
Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena.