The Washington Capitals held a morning skate at MedStar Capitals Iceplex prior to their game against the Detroit Red Wings. Puck drop from Capital One Arena can be seen on NBC Sports Washington or NBCSN starting at 7:30 PM. Here are all of the news from the team’s morning skate:

Forward T.J. Oshie took line rushes on the top line with captain Alex Ovechkin and center Nicklas Backstrom and appears likely to suit up against the Red Wings tonight after missing the past 11 games with a concussion. In 18 games this season, the 31-year old has nine goals, 14 points, and a +6 rating. Capitals’ head coach Todd Reirden called him “a game-time decision.”

Oshie a game-time decision per Reirden — JJ Regan (@JJReganNBCS) December 11, 2018

With Oshie back, forward Andre Burakovsky will come out of the lineup as he skated with the scratches at the morning skate.

Reirden says Burakovsky out because other players have taken more advantage of their opportunities — JJ Regan (@JJReganNBCS) December 11, 2018

Forward Tom Wilson, who has missed the past two games with a concussion, skated in a blue no-contact jersey on Tuesday. He left the Capitals’ 5-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights last Tuesday after getting hit in the shoulder by Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves in the second period.

Defenseman Madison Bowey took a shot off the side of his leg and left the ice for a while but returned later on. After practice, he said that he was fine.

Capitals Lines vs. Red Wings

Lines: Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie

Vrana-Kuznetsov-Connolly

Stephenson-Eller-DSP

Jaskin-Dowd-Boyd Kempny-Carlson

Orlov-Niskanen

Djoos-Bowey Holtby expected to start. — Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 11, 2018

Shavings

-Ovechkin enters tonight’s game against the Red Wings one power-play goal shy of passing Mario Lemieux (236) for seventh place on the NHL power-play goals list

-Forward Devante Smith-Pelly enters tonight’s game one point shy of 100 career points

-Among Capitals players with at least 13 games played this season, forward Travis Boyd leads the team in points per 60 minutes of five-on-five play (4.00), primary assists (2.50) and assists (3.50); Additionally, Boyd’s 2.50 primary assists per 60 minutes at five-on-five rank first in the NHL among players with at least 13 games played; Of Boyd’s seven assists, five have been primary helpers, tied for the eighth most on the Capitals.

-Ovechkin has recorded a point in 11 straight games (10 goals, 16 points), the longest streak by a Capital this season

-Forward Jakub Vrana recorded an assist in Saturday’s 4-0 win at the Columbus Blue Jackets, marking his third straight game with a point (three goals, four points), the third time in his career Vrana has recorded a point in three straight games, which is his highest career total; Vrana’s nine goals in 29 games this season are tied for third most on the Capitals and his five first-period goals lead the team.

-Goaltender Braden Holtby is 10-2-2 all-time against Detroit and has a career 2.11 goals against average and a .924 save percentage against the Red Wings

-Over the last four seasons, the Capitals are 39-11-9 in the month of December; that’s the most wins and points (87) by any team in the NHL during that span; additionally, the Capitals’ 182 goals for are tied for the second most and their 126 goals allowed are the least during that time frame

-The Capitals are 9-2-0 in their last 11 games and have recorded at least three goals in 11 straight games for the first time since January 5, 2010 through March 4, 2010 (23 games)

Capitals Today

CAPS TODAY: Travis Boyd, who scored his first NHL goal on Saturday, leads the NHL among players with at least 13 games played in primary assists per 60 minutes at five-on-five (2.50). More info on him and the Caps at https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/bRMvWUSTAy — CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 10, 2018

Game Notes

GAME NOTES: The Capitals return home to face the Detroit Red Wings tomorrow night. https://t.co/wjVFB5PQc4 pic.twitter.com/6keOJh7SzP — CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 11, 2018

By Harrison Brown

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