Capitals Prepare for Final Preseason Tests & Season Opener
The Washington Capitals continue a successful preseason, remaining undefeated after four victories, with each win secured by a different goaltender. They will conclude their exhibition schedule with rematches against the Boston Bruins and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Notably, the Bruins will also be Washington’s opponent for their regular season opener on October 8th.
In a 4-3 victory over the Blue Jackets in Columbus on Tuesday, Logan Thompson delivered a strong performance, stopping 36 of 39 shots in his first full preseason game. Thompson effectively neutralized several Columbus offensive pushes, particularly early in the contest, demonstrating sharpness from the start. “That’s a good team over there, skilled,” Thompson commented, acknowledging the challenge. “I knew coming in they were going to take some shots…overall just a positive result.”
Tuesday’s game marked the preseason debuts of both John Carlson and Tom Wilson. Both players appeared to be in strong form against a near full-strength Blue Jackets lineup.Carlson led all skaters with 24:01 of ice time, culminating in a lengthy 2:01 shift during a late-game 5-on-6 situation and subsequent penalty kill, playing 9:02 in the third period alone.
Wilson recorded a Gordie howe hat trick – a goal, an assist, and a fight – before the end of the second period. He assisted on Connor McMichael’s first-period goal, scored a goal on the forecheck, and then engaged in a fight with Columbus defenseman Erik Gudbranson after Gudbranson checked Ivan Miroshnichenko into the end boards. Wilson’s final shift was also his longest, logging 1:57 in the last seven minutes of the game after serving a 17-minute penalty. He played 4:01 of the final 7:03.
Head Coach Spencer Carbery was pleased with the performance of both veterans. “Solid,” he said. “They got what they needed to out of tonight. John looked real good, efficient, good with the puck. willie, same thing. It looked like he got up and running and was doing all the typical things that he needs to do to be successful.”
The Capitals took a team day off on Wednesday and will hold a morning skate at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Thursday before facing the Bruins.A separate group of players will practice later in the morning.
in a roster move, goaltender Garin Bjorklund, who excelled in relief during the preseason opener against Boston, stopping all 15 shots he faced, was loaned to the AHL’s hershey Bears. The Capitals’ training camp roster now consists of 38 players: 22 forwards, 13 defensemen, and three goaltenders.
The deadline for submitting opening night rosters is 5 pm ET on Monday, with players requiring waivers needing to be placed on waivers by 2 pm sunday to clear by Monday’s deadline.
Meanwhile, the bruins have posted a 2-2-1 preseason record, with one-goal losses to the Rangers and Flyers, and a shootout loss to Philadelphia. They conclude their preseason schedule with a Saturday afternoon game against the Rangers in Boston.
