📸: Alan Dobbins/RMNB
The Washington Capitals have traveled north to play the Montreal Canadiens in the back half of a back-to-back. The Caps are riding a two-game winning streak after downing the Edmonton Oilers at Capital One Arena on Wednesday night.
Unfortunately, it sounds as if the Capitals did not come out of that victory unscathed, though. Head coach Spencer Carbery hinted pregame in Montreal that the team may be dealing with some changes on defense against the Habs.
“Chuckie (Charlie Lindgren) will start,” Carbery said. “We may have a few changes on the backend.”
Capitals defense pairs from win against Oilers
Trevor van Riesmdyk played the least of the six defensemen (16:40 TOI), while the other five blueliners all skated at least 19:24 of ice time. Declan Chisholm and Dylan McIlrath were the healthy scratches on the backend.
Charlie Lindgren will make his seventh start of the season after he made 30 saves on 31 shots faced in a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings last Monday. He is 2-3-1 on the season with a 3.16 goals-against average, a .893 save percentage, and one shutout.
In five career appearances against his former team, Lindgren is 3-1 with a 2.51 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage.
The Canadiens, who the Capitals eliminated from last spring’s playoffs in the first round, are currently third in the Atlantic Division with a 10-6-3 record. They have lost four games in a row coming into Thursday night’s game.
Update (6:42): Dylan McIlrath will replace TVR.