The Capitals play their second-to-last preseason game tonight against the Buffalo Sabres. By now everyone fighting for a roster spot has had a chance to show what they can do. There will be one last dress rehearsal on Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks at Verizon Center.
“We’d like it to be two of our better games,” Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. “But then again last year I know the first five were our better games and the last two the guys were going ‘Okay, let’s get the season started here.’ But I think other than a couple guys it’s pretty well the lineup we’re going to go with.”
Mathieu Perreault and Mattias Sjogren – both figured to be fighting for one of the last roster spots – will sit tonight. The Caps know enough about Perreault to deal with that. He came out of the last preseason game against Nashville a little banged up anyway. But Boudreau hopes he can get back skating tomorrow and play on Sunday. But the full lineup for the Chicago game is dependent in large part on what happens tonight. Veteran winger Mike Knuble gets the day off, too.
“No need for him to play all four games this week,” Boudreau said. “We practice every day. He is getting a little older and I think he’s proven he can play. So we’ll give him a day off.”
No guarantee, of course, but the forward lines should look like this:
Ovechkin-Johansson-Brouwer
Laich-Backstrom-Semin
Chimera-Eakin-Ward
Hendricks-Halpern-Beagle
Some conflicting info on those top two lines so will be interesting to see what Boudreau goes with. Meanwhile, Tomas Vokoun gets the start in goal with Braden Holtby serving as the backup. Michal Neuvirth remains out of the lineup with a minor undisclosed injury. But he’s told the coaches he’s 100 percent and ready to get back on the ice this weekend.
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