Caps Close Out Preseason vs. Jackets
Washington hosts Metro rival Columbus in the final exhibition tune-up for both sides
Just over two weeks after the start of their 2022 training camp, the Caps will conclude their six-pack of preseason tune-ups on Saturday night when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets in the exhibition finale for both of these Metropolitan Division rivals.
Typically, the last preseason game or two are dress rehearsals for the varsity squad, but the Caps have a few nagging injuries among their veteran core, and they're still wanting to get another look at a few of the younger players who are still vying for roster spots in what has been an extremely competitive camp.
Right wing T.J. Oshie suffered an upper body injury just past the midpoint of the second period of Wednesday's game against Detroit. Oshie departed and did not return after absorbing a hit along the half wall from Wings forward Joe Velleno.
"He's day-to-day," said Caps coach Peter Laviolette on Thursday, speaking of Oshie. "He got banged up [Wednesday] night. He probably will not play [Saturday]. And then we'll see how he's doing. He's dealing with something, and we're still trying to get a handle on that."
Caps defenseman Dmitry Orlov suffered a lower body injury on Wednesday, but he was able to finish the game. Center Lars Eller missed Friday's practice because of illness. At Saturday's morning skate ahead of the exhibition finale against the Blue Jackets, only Eller was missing. Oshie and Orlov were both on the ice, albeit in dark blue non-contact sweaters.
Given their Saturday participation, Laviolette acknowledged progress for both players, but with Wednesday's season opener against Boston still days away, both players still have some time to heal.
"It's the next steps of the process," says Laviolette. "The fact that they're both out here and participating and getting in a good workout, that's really good for us. Hopefully it continues to go that way.
"They're still day-to-day, but they're out here. We've got a game [tonight] and a practice [Sunday] and then one more practice after that [on Tuesday], so we'll see where everything's at and see how they're feeling, and then we'll make decisions."
The Caps have acquitted themselves well in the preseason, particularly in their own end where the defense has been sturdy and efficient, and the goaltending has been consistently solid. Washington has been nicked for a total of nine goals against in its five preseason tilts, with four of those nine coming in the exhibition opener against Buffalo back on Sept. 25. The Caps have yielded only four goals against at 5-on-5 in their five previous exhibitions this fall.
"We had mixed lineups for the first four games, but I thought that they played hard those first four games," says Laviolette. "The Buffalo game, we were a little bit loose at the beginning of the game, but then we really tightened that up defensively. The next three games I thought we were really tight defensively. [Wednesday] night, I thought we came out of the gate slow in the first period. But then in the second and third period, we picked up the physicality, the speed, the compete, the battle, and did a really good job to win a hockey game.
"So I'm happy with the way things have gone, and we've got one game left to continue that, to try and make sure that we feel good about what we've done in camp, to get ready for game one against Boston."
Darcy Kuemper will get the start tonight in net for Washington, and he will go the distance for the second straight game.
Washington's lone regulation loss thus far in the preseason came at the hands of the Blue Jackets a week ago in Columbus.
Columbus is also concluding its exhibition slate here on Saturday night, but the Jackets had eight preseason games in total. The Blue Jackets enter tonight's game on the heels of a 7-0 demolition of the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night in Ohio's capital city.
The Jackets got goals from seven different skaters in the win over the Blues, putting a crooked number on the board in each period. Daniil Tarasov stopped all 24 shots he faced to record the shutout for Columbus.
