Green a game-time decision for Capitals

Thursday, 03.21.2013 / 2:16 PM

By Patrick Williams - NHL.com Correspondent / 2012-2013 At the Rink blog

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WINNIPEG -- The Washington Capitals’ season may be on the line Thursday when they meet the Winnipeg Jets for the first of a pair of games at MTS Centre.

The Capitals (12-16-1) sit seven points out of an Eastern Conference playoff spot and face a pair of nearly must-win games if they are to remain in contention. But a Washington blue line missing four regulars could regain Mike Green's services against Winnipeg. Green, who has missed 10 consecutive games with a groin injury, participated in the Capitals' morning skate, but Washington coach Adam Oates labeled him a "game-time decision."

Braden Holtby will make his third consecutive start in goal for the Capitals after a 36-save performance Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, a 2-1 loss that Oates termed "probably the best game all year."

Jets coach Claude Noel will start Ondrej Pavelec in goal for the eighth straight game.

Winnipeg (16-12-2) activated backup goaltender Al Montoya from injured reserve Thursday and returned netminder Edward Pasquale to St. John's of the American Hockey League. Defenseman Tobias Enstrom, out since Feb. 15 with a shoulder injury, appears to be nearing a return, but will not dress Thursday.

Here are the projected lineups for the Capitals and Jets for the game Thursday:

CAPITALS

Marcus Johansson - Nicklas Backstrom - Alex Ovechkin

Brooks Laich - Mike Ribeiro - Troy Brouwer

Jason Chimera - Mathieu Perreault - Eric Fehr

Matt Hendricks - Jay Beagle - Joel Ward

Karl Alzner - Mike Green

Jeff Schultz - John Carlson

Jack Hillen - Dmitry Orlov

Braden Holtby

Michal Neuvirth

Scratched: Joey Crabb, Steve Oleksy, Aaron Volpatti, Wojtek Wolski