Per Katie Carrera, Braden Holtby takes over in net and Alex Ovechkin is a game-time decision with a lower-body injury. If the captain is unable to go, here are tonight’s projected lines and defensive pairings (and if he gets the green light, expect the same lineup that faced the Rangers on Sunday):
Marcus Johansson – Nicklas Backstrom – Troy Brouwer
Jason Chimera – Mikhail Grabovski – Eric Fehr
Martin Erat – Brooks Laich – Joel Ward
That leaves John Erskine as a healthy scratch (with Steve Oleksy on his way back to Hershey), Jack Hillen and potentially Alex Ovechkin out with injury, and Michal Neuvirth serving as the team’s lone backup goaltender. Huzzah.