Significant Challenge: Bruins Confront Major Roster Problems
Significant Challenge: Bruins Confront Major Roster Problems.
The Washington Capitals are in Boston on April Fools’ Day for their final matchup of the season against the Bruins. The two teams have split their first two games this season, making Tuesday’s game the deciding factor in the season series.
While Ryan Leonard’s NHL debut is the main headline, the Capitals and head coach Spencer Carbery also had some lineup updates after the morning skate. Carbery announced that Matt Roy, a key part of the Capitals’ defense this season, will be absent for the game due to “family reasons.” Roy is not with the team in Boston, and Carbery did not clarify whether Roy will return for Wednesday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Veteran defenseman Dylan McIlrath, who hasn’t played in over three months, will replace Roy in the lineup. McIlrath’s last appearance was in Boston on December 23, where he played only 1:45 as the seventh defenseman. Carbery has previously stated his intent to give McIlrath and fellow healthy scratch Alexeyev playing time before the playoffs, but Roy’s family situation has led to this adjustment.
Additionally, Taylor Raddysh will be scratched to make room for Leonard’s debut. Leonard will join Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas on the top line, which may push Connor McMichael to a third-line role.
Projected Capitals lineup against the Bruins:
- Ovechkin
- Dubois
- Wilson
- Protas
- Strome
- Leonard
- McMichael
- Eller
- Mangiapane
- Duhaime
- Dowd
- Beauvillier
- Sandin
- Carlson
- Chychrun
- TVR
- Fehervary
- McIlrath
- Lindgren
- Thompson
Charlie Lindgren will start in goal as the Capitals look to avoid their first four-game losing streak of the season. Lindgren was the stronger of the two goaltenders in March, posting a 3-2 record with a 2.38 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.
Lindgren took the loss in his only appearance against the Bruins this season, allowing three goals on 21 shots. Over five career games against Boston, Lindgren is 2-2-1 with a 1.66 goals-against average, a .933 save percentage, and two shutouts.
Alex Ovechkin enters the game just five goals shy of passing Wayne Gretzky for the NHL’s all-time goals record. Ovechkin has 29 goals in 68 career games against the Bruins and one goal in seven games against Bruins starter Jeremy Swayman.
The Bruins come into the game on a league-worst five-game losing streak, now ranked 15th in the Eastern Conference, just one point ahead of the Buffalo Sabres for last place.
