After undergoing offseason shoulder surgery and prolonged contract negotiations, Bear has signed a two-year, $4.125 million contract with the Washington Capitals. The 25-year-old Bear played 61 games with the Vancouver Canucks last season, scoring 16 points (3G / 13A), recording a +6 plus/minus, and registering 82 blocks while averaging 18:32 time-on-ice. Bear should help solidify the blueline for a Capitals team that already ranks top-10 in the league defensively, allowing only 2.75 goals per game.

Thompson will draw the Golden Knights' crease for the first time in three games after backing up their previous two losses but will start Wednesday on the road in Anaheim. The 26-year-old has struggled compared to his previous two season in 2023-24, with his 10-5-3 record, 2.71 GAA and .905 SV%. He will look to get Vegas out of their current three-game slump as they take on Anaheim, who has lost their last two games and are 29th in the NHL in goals per game (2.58 GAA).

McMichael will return to face the Lightning on Saturday after missing the last two games with an illness. He is expected to reclaim his role as Washington's second-line centre. McMichael has six goals and seven assists in 28 games this season.

Sgarbossa did not appear for the Capitals during his brief call-up stint and will head back to Hershey (AHL) Friday. The 31-year-old centre last played in the NHL in 2021-22 but has been having success in the minors with the Bears this season, with five goals, 28 points, 16 PIMs and a +4 plus/minus in 28 games played.

Lindgren will take over the Capitals’ crease for the first time in three games Thursday and look to extend Washington’s winning streak to three as they head to Columbus. The 30-year-old veteran has surprisingly been the better of the Capitals’ two goaltenders with his 6-3-2 record, 2.45 GAA and .925 SV%. He will head to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets, who are fresh off their highest scoring game of the season as they beat Buffalo 9-4 their last time out.

Sgarbossa has been in the Capitals system since the 2018-19 season but has only played 17 games with the club in that span, scoring six points (2G / 4A). He has spent most of his time with the Hershey Bears of the AHL, where he has been stellar this season, scoring 28 points (5G / 23A) in 28 games.

Miroshnichenko was the 20th overall pick of the Washington Capitals in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and was recalled from the Hershey Bears of the AHL on Tuesday. In his first season in North America, the 19-year-old has 15 points (8G / 7A) in 27 games with Hershey. He will make his NHL debut on Wednesday against the New York Islanders.

Adin Hill returned to action on Sunday but exited the game shortly after with an injury. Thompson jumped into the crease and saved 20 of 22 shots in relief (.909 SV%) en route to a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators and will start again on Tuesday. Thompson has won five of seven games in December (5-1-1), posting a .904 SV% in the process. The Golden Knights are +118 road underdogs against the Carolina Hurricanes, who have lost two straight games.

Oshie missed six games at the beginning of the month with an upper-body injury, returned to play four games, and then did not play on Sunday due to a lower-body injury. He has now been placed on the injured reserve and will be out of the lineup for at least a week. Oshie has struggled this year with only four points (2G / 2A) in 26 games but was on a two-game point streak, scoring two points (1G / 1A) in his last two outings.

Lapierre was the 22nd overall pick of the Capitals in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and has split time between the Hershey Bears (AHL) and the Capitals this season. In 11 games with the Capitals, he has three points (1G / 2A) while averaging 10:06 time-on-ice.

Miroshnichenko was the 20th overall pick of the Washington Capitals in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and was recalled from the Hershey Bears of the AHL on Tuesday. In his first season in North America, the 19-year-old has 15 points (8G / 7A) in 27 games with Hershey.

Adin Hill is nearing a return but is not ready to play yet, as Thompson will start for the second straight game and eighth time in the last nine games for the Golden Knights. Thompson has been serviceable since Hill went down with an injury, making his case to hopefully have at least a time-share when he returns, posting a .911 SV% in six games (4-0-1). The Golden Knights have won four straight games and are sizeable -200 home favourites against a Buffalo Sabres team that has lost two of their last three (1-1-1) and will be without top-six forward Jeff Skinner (upper-body).

Lindgren will start for the third time in the last four games for the Capitals and will look to build off his most recent performance, a 31-save shutout in a 4-0 victory over the New York Rangers, his second shutout in as many weeks. Lindgren has been a cornerstone and predominant reason why the Capitals are in playoff contention this season, boasting a tremendous 6-1-1 record and .936 SV% in his last nine appearances. The Capitals are slight +116 road underdogs against an equally surprising team, the Philadelphia Flyers, who have collected a point in six straight games (4-0-2).