WASHINGTON CAPITALS NEWS

Darcy Kuemper - Slated to start Kuemper is set to guard the home crease Wednesday versus Florida, per Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network.

Impact Kuemper will attempt to bounce back after stopping just 18 of 21 shots in a 3-0 loss to the Islanders on Thursday. He has a 3-3-1 record, 2.94 GAA and .899 save percentage in seven contests this season. The Panthers are tied for 22nd offensively with 2.82 goals per game this year.

NOVEMBER 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Michael Sgarbossa - Recalled Wednesday Sgarbossa was called up by Washington on Wednesday.

Impact If Evgeny Kuznetsov (illness) ends up not being an option Wednesday versus Florida, then Sgarbossa might draw into the lineup. Although Sgarbossa has seen success with AHL Hershey this season -- three goals and 12 points through 11 contests -- the 31-year-old will likely serve in a bottom-six role with the Capitals if he plays at all.

NOVEMBER 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nicklas Backstrom - On LTIR Backstrom (hip), who announced last Wednesday that he's temporarily stepping away from hockey to focus on his health, was moved to the long-term injured reserve list Wednesday.

Impact It was already expected that Backstrom would be out for a while, but this move helps cement that fact. He had an assist in eight contests before beginning his break from hockey. With Backstrom unavailable, Dylan Strome seems to have cemented himself on the Capitals' top line.

NOVEMBER 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

'Evolving' Capitals optimistic with Panthers up next Oct 25, 2023; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Washington Capitals center Connor McMichael (24) celebrates with Washington Capitals right wing Antho...

NOVEMBER 8, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Ovechkin says Capitals moving in 'right direction' after slow start | NHL.com Washington has won 4 of past 5 heading into matchup against Panthers

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 • NHL.COM

Ovechkin says Capitals moving in 'right direction' after slow start | NHL.com Washington has won 4 of past 5 heading into matchup against Panthers

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 • NHL.COM

Max Pacioretty, finally skating, says he has 'so much more hockey in the tank' “This is what I was born to do, so it feels like some normalcy in my life,” Pacioretty said. “Definitely have much more of a smile on my fac...

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Pacioretty works toward return with Capitals after considering retirement | NHL.com Forward who’s skating following 2nd Achilles tear has ‘lot of hockey left in me’

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 • NHL.COM

Alexander Suzdalev - Assigned to Swedish team Suzdalev was reassigned to Mora IK of Sweden's HockeyAllsvenskan on Tuesday.

Impact Suzdalev didn't see any AHL action with Hershey prior to the move. The 19-year-old forward amassed 38 goals and 86 points in 66 games with WHL Regina last season. The Capitals selected Suzdalev with the No. 70 overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Max Pacioretty - Skating occasionally Pacioretty (Achilles) has skated three times over the past couple weeks, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.

Impact Pacioretty is still working his way back from the Achilles injury he sustained in late January, but he still believes he can play, telling Gulitti "I do know I have a lot of hockey left in me. There was a time where maybe I wasn't as confident in that, a time where I didn't know if I'd play hockey ever again, but I'm coming to the rink every day thinking that this could be my last day here and just enjoying it." There's still no clear timeline for Pacioretty's return, but the fact that he hasn't begun to skate on a regular basis yet doesn't bode well for his availability in the near future.

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Panthers in action against the Capitals following overtime win

The Florida Panthers visit the Washington Capitals after the Panthers defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4 in overtime

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nic Dowd - Resumes skating Dowd (upper body) has begun skating on his own and could return to practice some time this week according to Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan, Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental...

Impact Dowd has missed the last eight games with the injury and remains without a clear timetable for returning. The 33-year-old has always been an invaluable defensive specialist in his time with the Capitals, but he could see an increased role with Nicklas Backstrom (hip) unlikely to return this season and Connor McMichael still learning the ropes as a big-league pivot.

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Joel Edmundson - Skating again Edmundson (hand) has resumed skating and could return to practice later this week according to Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan, Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Networ...

Impact Edmundson has been out since suffering the injury during a preseason practice in September, but could be ready to ramp up his workload in the coming days. The 30-year-old's return can't come soon enough with Trevor Van Riemsdyk (lower body) now sidelined.

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Capitals' Nicklas Backstrom unlikely to play again this season ARLINGTON, Va. — Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said it’s unlikely Nicklas Backstrom plays again this season after the...

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 • TRIBLIVE.COM

Nicklas Backstrom 'unlikely' to return this season, Caps GM Brian MacLellan says “It’s been a long process for him to get through the injury,” Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said. “I think it’s been hard for him, and he made...

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Capitals GM: C Nicklas Backstrom (hip) likely out for season Oct 29, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (19) controls the puck during the first pe...

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Backstrom 'unlikely' to play again this season for Capitals, GM says | NHL.com MacLellan says Washington supports center who’s battling chronic hip issue

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 • NHL.COM

Nicklas Backstrom is unlikely to play again this season, Capitals GM Brian MacLellan says

Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan says it's unlikely Nicklas Backstrom plays again this season

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Trevor van Riemsdyk - Considered day-to-day Van Riemsdyk (lower body) remains day-to-day, Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Van Riemsdyk exited after logging just 1:34 of ice time in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Blue Jackets and did not return. The 32-year-old is still be evaluated, but head coach Spencer Carbery remains optimistic he will not be out long-term. Expect Hardy Haman-Aktell or Lucas Johansson to fill the void in the interim, unless Joel Edmundson (hand) is deemed fit to return to action.

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Evgeny Kuznetsov - Dealing with illness Kuznetsov (illness) was absent from Monday's practice, Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press reports.

Impact Kuznetsov still has time to recover before Wednesday's matchup with Florida. He has registered one goal, four assists and 27 shots on net across 10 contests this campaign. Consider Kuznetsov day-to-day for now.

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Capitals' Connor McMichael is back at center and gaining confidence McMichael got the chance to move back to his natural position when Nicklas Backstrom stepped away from the team, and is taking advantage of...

NOVEMBER 5, 2023 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Early goals stand up as Caps clip Blue Jackets Nov 4, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Jack Roslovic (96) skates with the puck as Washington Capit...

NOVEMBER 5, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Capitals turn a rare early lead into a 2-1 win over the Blue Jackets Early tallies from Tom Wilson and Sonny Milano helped the Capitals snare the 1,000th home win in franchise history.

NOVEMBER 5, 2023 • WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Lindgren makes 35 saves, Capitals hold off Blue Jackets | NHL.com Plays for 1st time in 22 days, helps Washington to 4th win in 5 games

NOVEMBER 5, 2023 • NHL.COM

Tom Wilson - Five points in last six games Wilson scored a goal in a 2-1 win over the Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Impact He chipped a bouncing puck off the catching arm shoulder of Elvis Merzlikins to open the scoring in the first period. Wilson has a point in five of his last six games (three goals, two assists) and 20 shots in that span. Remarkably, he's tied with Dylan Strome for third in team scoring (six points), and he's ahead of Evgeny Kuznetsov, who has five. The Caps are a low-scoring team, but Wilson will get lots of looks as the top-line right winger beside Dylan Strome and Alex Ovechkin.

NOVEMBER 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE