Protas was selected No.91 overall in 2019 and Monday would be his NHL debut if he gets into the lineup in Tampa. The 6-foot-6, 210 lbs. forward has scored three goals with eight assists (11 points) in 22 career AHL games.
Dowd has missed two of the last three games with a lower-body injury that will also keep him out off the lineup on Monday. Moving him to IR frees up a roster spot so the Capitals could bring an extra forward to Tampa. They recalled Aliaksei Protas from Hershey (AHL).
Dowd missed Monday's game but was able to play Wednesday. Dowd took a spill at the morning skate and is questionable to play Friday. Brett Leason will make his NHL debut if Dowd can't play.
Leason was a second-round pick of the Capitals in 2019 and gets called up after T.J. Oshie was placed on IR with a lower-body injury. Leason has scored 10 goals with 11 assists (21 points) in his last 38 AHL games dating back to the start of last season. It would be his NHL debut if he gets into the lineup on Friday.
Nic Dowd is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, so Lapierre will draw back into the bottom-6 on Monday. Lapierre scored a goal in his NHL debut and has picked up two shots and two PIMS in two career games.
Dowd did not travel to Ottawa for Monday's game and is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. With Dowd out, Lars Eller will shift to the fourth line in his spot and Hendrix Lapierre will draw back into the lineup.
Milano was recalled from the AHL on Tuesday and will draw into the Ducks lineup on Thursday. Milano is expected to replace Max Comtois on a line with Ryan Getzlaf.
Strome has been a healthy scratch for the first four games of the season but will replace Philipp Kurashev in the lineup on Thursday. Strome had nine goals and eight assists (17 points) in 40 games last season.
Strome’s 2021-22 season will get off to a tough start, as he fell down the depth chart in training camp and will be a healthy scratch in Colorado.
Lapierre was selected No.22 overall in the 2020 draft and cracked the Capitals lineup out of training camp with Nicklas Backstrom (hip) sidelined. Lapierre had eight goals and 23 assists (31 points) in 21 QMJHL goals last season and picked up five assists in four preseason games. Lapierre will start his NHL career as the Capitals third-line centre, with T.J. Oshie and Conor Sheary on his wings.
Ovechkin has been dealing with a minor lower-body injury but was on the ice for Wednesday’s morning skate and it appears he will be available for the Capitals’ season opener. However, Ovechkin told reporters he did not know if he was playing tonight, so consider him a game-time decision.
Sourdif was a third-round pick (No.87 overall) of the Panthers in 2020. The 18-year-old centre had 34 points (11G / 24A) in 22 games with the Vancouver Giants (WHL) in 2021. The Giants' point leader will return to start the 2022 season.
