After missing the last five games with a lower-body injury, Nick Foligno will be back against the Capitals if he gets through warmups without any setbacks, which Cassidy said, "I think is just a formality now." Foligno's return would bump Oskar Steen from the lineup.
"We had a few different candidates we discussed. I think with Oskar, he like everybody, wasn't at his best the other night. But he's played well for us," said Cassidy. "It was a tough decision. But at the end of the day, it's easier to switch to go in and just play the right side with [Charlie] Coyle and probably OK for Oskar to go upstairs and watch a game and sort of reset."
Steen impressed over the first few games following his call-up from Providence - he notched a goal and two assists in four games - but his production has slipped a bit of late, leading to a five-game point-less streak. As such, Cassidy believes it's a good time for the 23-year-old to watch from up top, though he doesn't expect the winger to be sitting for long.
"I don't expect it to be long term," said Cassidy. "We liked his play, like his energy. Nice to have some youth in there, but again we sorted through a couple of candidates and fell on him…like a lot of young guys you find out if they're where they're at mentally in that regard.
"You're going to go up, just as I said, and watch the game from up there and take a breather and our intention is to get you back in there. I can't guarantee it'll be Saturday because that depends on today's game, but it's not like we're disappointed in your play know it's dropped a little bit of late, but not to the point where we don't think you can help us win.
"It's just we have 13 healthy forwards. Someone has to sit and it's your turn tonight and make sure you bring your work ethic and Friday's practice. Be ready to go Saturday if your numbers up on the board."