Game 21: 23-10-7-3 (PTS-W-L-OT)
Wednesday November 21, 2018 Chicago Blackhawks @ Washington Capitals
Place: Capital One Arena
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSWA, WGN
Radio: 106.7 The Fan, Capitals Radio 24/7
NHL.COM for Live Box Score
Last Game: Mon November 19 Capitals Won 5-4 in OT against Canadiens
Next Game: Fri November 23, 4:00pm ET Red Wings @ Capitals
 8-Ovechkin | 19-Bäckström | 43-Wilson |
| 13-Vrana | 20-Eller | 10-Connolly |
| 65-Burakovsky | 72-Boyd | 25-Smith-Pelly |
| 23-Jaskin | 26-Dowd | 18-Stephenson |
| 6-Kempny | 74-Carlson |
| 9-Orlov | 2-Niskanen |
| 29-Djoos | 22-Bowey |
|
| 70-Holtby (starter) |
| 1-Copley |
-- SCRATCH -- | 92-Kuznetsov (upper body injury, day-to-day) |
| 77-Oshie (upper body injury, day-to-day) |
| |
-- INJURED RESERVE -- | 44-Orpik (Knee Surgery, 4-6 weeks before return) |
| |
-- 1st Powerplay Unit -- | 20-Eller | 19-Bäckström | 43-Wilson |
-- 2nd Powerplay Unit -- | 13-Vrana | 10-Connolly | 65-Burakovsky |
Referees: Eric Furlatt (#27), Ghislain Hebert (#22)
Linesmen: Devin Berg (#87), Libor Suchanek (#60)
1st Period00:54 GOAL 43-Wilson, assists 8-Ovechkin & 19-Bäckström 1-0 WSH
06:36 PP GOAL 65-Burakovsky, assists 13-Vrana & 2-Niskanen 2-0 WSH
2nd Period09:28 GOAL 6-Kempny, assist 13-Vrana 3-0 WSH
11:37 Hawks GOAL Saad, assists Toews & Keith 3-1 WSH
3rd Period05:23 Hawks GOAL Gustafsson, assists Anisimov & Schmaltz 3-2 WSH
07:12 GOAL 25-Smith-Pelly, assists 72-Boyd & 74-Carlson 4-2 WSH
FINAL: 4-2 WSH
By Samantha Pell November 21 at 1:00 PM
Nicklas Backstrom rejoins Alex Ovechkin on top line as injuries still sideline Oshie, Kuznetsov
Center Nicklas Backstrom will center the top line alongside captain Alex Ovechkin and winger Tom Wilson. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom will once again be reunited with captain Alex Ovechkin on the top line for Wednesday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks due to lingering injuries to the Capitals' top six forwards. Backstrom had been a mainstay on the second line this season, with center Evgeny Kuznetsov anchoring the first line.
But with Kuznetsov and right wing T.J. Oshie still not playing Wednesday after being listed as “day-to-day" with likely concussions, Backstrom was elevated to the top line. Both Oshie and Kuznetsov suffered head injuries last week against Winnipeg and neither has skated with the team since.
“No there is nothing new,” Capitals Coach Todd Reirden said of Oshie and Kuznetsov. “They are day-to-day and they’ll stay that way I guess until they get back on the ice. Then, I can update you some more.”
Due to Kuznetsov’s absence, Capitals center Lars Eller had centered a top line of Ovechkin and right wing Tom Wilson in a 3-2 overtime win against the Colorado Avalanche and part of the Capitals' 5-4 overtime win against Montreal Monday. But, an in-game line change from Reirden against Montreal moved Eller off the top line to anchor the second next to wingers Jakub Vrana and Brett Connolly.
Reirden has sometimes been double-shifting Ovechkin with Backstrom, often times near the end of periods so far this season. The last time Ovechkin and Backstrom skated together on the top line was with Oshie against Arizona last Sunday. But despite all the injuries, Reirden has been happy with his team’s response.
“We weren’t all that pleased after our homestand and then to get the response on that trip was good," Reirden said. "Given the adversity we had to go through with injured players was, I thought, a strong statement by our players and the depth of our team.”
Tom Wilson to play first home game of the season, Kempny facing former team
Wilson will make his season-debut at Capital One Arena Wednesday against the Blackhawks after his suspension for an illegal check to the head in the preseason. His original 20-game suspension was reduced to 14 games by neutral arbitrator Shyam Das last Tuesday and Wilson was thrust into the lineup for all four games on the Capitals' road trip.
“I am excited," Wilson said. “There is no better feeling than being home in front of these fans,” Wilson said. "It is a lot of fun and there is great support for this city and myself and this team, it is definitely second to none and I am excited about it.”
Since his return to the lineup, Wilson has scored one goal and four assists playing on the top line.
Making another debut is defenseman Michael Kempny, skating against his former team for the first time. Chicago had traded Kempny in February to the Capitals for a third-round pick. With the Blackhawks through 31 games that season, the defenseman had one goal and six assists. He tallied three goals and 12 assists in 81 career NHL games with Chicago.
Kempny said Wednesday’s game will be special to him, but he doesn’t want to get too excited and wants to treat it like a normal game.
“I’m playing a lot and it is a lot different than in Chicago," Kempny said of his role with the Capitals. "I am happy here, trying to give my best in every game and it is my job. ... Thank God that it happened because it’s probably, oh for sure, saved my career in the NHL. It couldn’t be better.”
Read more on the Capitals:With Brooks Orpik out after knee surgery, Madison Bowey gets his shotLars Eller stepping into more responsibility again with Capitals hit by injuriesBraden Holtby comes off the bench, and Capitals rally to beat Canadiens
