Capitals vs. Golden Knights: Lines, Notes, & How to Watch

The Washington Capitals (30-23-7) finish a quick two-game homestand on Friday night. They will host the Vegas Golden Knights (28-16-14), whom they beat in the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals.

The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Vegas is one of only two NHL teams the Capitals have yet to face this season. The other team is Utah, who will visit Washington on Tuesday.

The Capitals returned to action on Wednesday night with a 3-1 home win over Philadelphia. The team got the job done without alternate captains Tom Wilson (illness) and John Carlson (lower body).

Logan Thompson stepped up big time after earning a silver medal for Team Canada in the Winter Olympics. He stopped 23 of 24 shots for his 20th victory this season.

Rasmus Sandin recorded the first Capitals goal in the middle frame, while Trevor van Riemsdyk scored the game-winner in the third. Then, Aliaksei Protas sealed it with an empty-netter to reach the 20-goal mark for the second straight season.

With Connor McMichael coming off injured reserve, the Capitals placed 11-year NHL veteran Sonny Milano on waivers. On Thursday afternoon, Milano cleared waivers and will be sent down to Hershey.

Meanwhile, Vegas started a five-game road trip with a 6-4 victory over Los Angeles on Wednesday night. The Golden Knights’ five Olympic participants – Americans Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin and Canadians Mitch Marner, Mark Stone, and Shea Theodore – were all given the night off.

With 70 points in 58 games, Vegas currently sits atop the Pacific Division standings. The team’s .603 points percentage ranks 11th in the NHL.

Expected Capitals Lines

Forwards

Aliaksei Protas – Dylan Strome – Alex Ovechkin

Connor McMichael – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Ryan Leonard

Anthony Beauvillier – Justin Sourdif – Ethen Frank

Brandon Duhaime – Nic Dowd – Hendrix Lapierre

Defensemen

Jakob Chychrun – Rasmus Sandin

Martin Fehervary – Matt Roy

Declan Chisholm – Trevor van Riemsdyk

Goalies

Logan Thompson

Charlie Lindgren

Expected Golden Knights Lines

Forwards

Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Alexander Holtz

Pavel Dorofeyev – Mitch Marner – Mark Stone

Reilly Smith – Tomas Hertl – Keegan Kolesar

Brandon Saad – Colton Sissons – Braeden Bowman

Defensemen

Jeremy Lauzon – Shea Theodore

Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson

Brayden McNabb -Kaedan Korczak

Goalies

Adin Hill

Akira Schmid

How to Watch

TV: Monumental Sports Network

Radio: 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio Network

By Harry Lichtman

Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for Sportsnaut. He also contributes to the sites ... More about Harry Lichtman