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Capitals shuffle lineup again with T.J. Oshie added to NHL’s COVID-19 protocol

By J.J. Regan

Caps add Oshie to COVID-19 protocol, recall Joe Snively originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

T.J. Oshie has entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol and will be unavailable for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings, the Capitals have announced. In addition, the team has recalled Joe Snively from the Hershey Bears.

Oshie now joins Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nicklas Backstrom and Garnet Hathaway in COVID protocol.

“Obviously, it’s not what you want. Backstrom, Kuznetsov and Oshie, lots of guys on your power play and top-six guys, but it is what it is,” Washington head coach Peter Laviolette said. “We’ve got to move forward here. We’ll see what we have available.”

The news Sunday will force the Capitals to shuffle their lineup yet again and Sunday’s morning skate offered few answers for what to expect for the game.

Snively, a native of Herndon, Va., could make his NHL debut as he skated on the second line with Aliaksei Protas and Conor Sheary. Snively currently leads the Bears in points (8 goals, 14 assists) with 22 in 21 games. Both he and Laviolette said after the morning skate, however, that he was on standby.

“He’s worked hard,” Laviolette said. “He put himself in a position to have his name called.”

Hathaway may be nearing a return as he was on the ice for the morning skate, though he technically remains in protocol for now. Tom Wilson, who has been dealing with an upper-body injury, was on the ice as well. Neither Hathaway nor Wilson, however, took part in line rushes. Wilson stayed on after the morning skate for additional skating, something usually reserved for extras not playing in the game. Hathaway did not.

Hanging above everything is the possibility of more positive COVID tests. The team underwent testing on Sunday, but the results were still pending as the team skated. Oshie’s positive test came on Saturday.

With so many questions, Laviolette had very few answers about what to expect the lineup to look like for the game. He confirmed only that Nic Dowd and Trevor van Riemsdyk would be back in after missing Friday’s game in Winnipeg due to Canada’s more strict border-entry provisions. Both played in Wednesday’s game in Chicago.

The status of Snively, Wilson and Hathaway, however, is up in the air.

“TVR and Dowd will draw back in tonight,” Laviolette said. “The other guys that are on the ice, I’m not sure. I’ve got to go in and assess things and see where everything’s at.”

Here are the lines from the morning skate:

Alex Ovechkin – Lars Eller – Daniel Sprong

Joe Snively – Aliaksei Protas – Conor Sheary

Carl Hagelin – Mike Sgarbossa – Brett Leason

Connor McMichael – Nic Dowd – Beck Malenstyn

Martin Fehervary – John Carlson

Dmitry Orlov – Nick Jensen

Trevor van Riemsdyk – Justin Schultz

Vitek Vanecek will start in goal. 

All about Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin with stats and contract info

By NBC Sports Washington Staff
All about Alex Ovechkin with stats and contract info originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonEver since making his NHL debut in 2005, Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has proven to be the greatest goalscorer the sport has ever seen.The 2004 No. 1 overall pick scored two goals in his first career game and hasn't stopped finding the back of the net at record pace, putting him within reach of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals mark. Ovechkin has compiled an impressive trophy case along the way, winning three Hart Memorial Trophy MVPs, a record nine Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies as the NHL's leading goal scorer, nine NHL First-Team selections, 12 all-star selections, the 2018-19 Stanley Cup title and the Conn Smythe Trophy for the MVP of that year's playoffs.He is undoubtedly one of the greatest hockey players of all time. Alex Ovechkin's BioHeight: 6-foot-3Weight: 238 poundsBirthdate: Sept. 17, 1985 Birthplace: Moscow, RussiaNHL experience: 17 seasonsJersey No. 8Alex Ovechkin's Career StatsAfter showing no signs of slowing down with a 50-goal season in Year 17, Ovechkin has continued to put up mind-boggling stats deep into his 30s. Here are his complete career numbers to date (through Oct 11, 2022): 1,274 games played780 goals scored630 assists1,410 pointsStanley Cup Playoffs:141 games71 goals64 assists135 pointsAlex Ovechkin's Contract DetailsIt was always a matter of "when" and not "if" Alex Ovechkin would sign a contract extension with the Capitals this past offseason. The five-year, $47.5 million deal he signed at the end of July 2021 showed his desire to finish his career in the nation's capital with an eye towards breaking the all-time goals record as well. Ovechkin's deal ends following the 2025-26 season. Where does Alex Ovechkin rank on the all-time goals list? Ovechkin finished his 17th NHL season with a clean 50 goals, bringing his career total to 780. Here's where that ever-growing mark ranks on the all-time goals leaderboard: Wayne Gretzky: 894Gordie Howe: 801Alex Ovechkin: 780Jaromir Jagr: 766Brett Hull: 741Other Alex Ovechkin RecordsMuch has been made about Ovechkin's all-time goals chase, but he's also accumulated some other pretty impressive records along the way as well. Most recently, Ovi broke the all-time power play goals mark with his 275th score on New Year's Eve against the Red Wings. By a second, he narrowly beat the release of Detroit's man in the penalty box to secure the record. Here are some of the Great 8's other all-time NHL records: Most scoring titles: nineMost overtime goals: 24Most consecutive 30-goal seasons: 15 (tied with Jaromir Jagr and Mike Gartner)
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