Ovechkin has been practicing in a full-contact jersey for the last week and could return to action on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 39-year-old Ovechkin was well on his way to surpassing Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record (894) before his injury this season. He is 27 goals away, a feat that continues to be jeopardized with each game he misses.

McIlrath will fill in for Hendrix Lapierre, who is out with an undisclosed injury. It is set to be McIlrath's first NHL game since November 3rd. The 32-year-old blue-liner has no goals and two assists in ten games this season.

Lapierre was a surprise scratch, with his absence not being announced prior to warmups. Lapierre is yet to score a goal in 26 games this season.

The Capitals will turn to Lindgren between the pipes on Monday night against the Boston Bruins. Lindgren saved 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%) in his most recent outing. The 31-year-old netminder has a 2.59 GAA and .903 SV% in 16 games this season (10-6-0). The Capitals enter Monday's contest as +114 road underdogs against a Bruins club with points in four straight (3-0-1).

The Capitals will turn to Lindgren between the pipes on Monday night against the Boston Bruins. Lindgren saved 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%) in his most recent outing. The 31-year-old netminder has a 2.59 GAA and .903 SV% in 16 games this season (10-6-0). The Capitals enter Monday's contest as +114 road underdogs against a Bruins club with points in four straight (3-0-1).

The Capitals have lost consecutive regulation games for only the second time this season and will attempt to return to the win column on Friday with Lindgren between the pipes. Lindgren allowed three goals on 24 shots (.875 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. The 31-year-old Lindgren has a 2.69 GAA and .899 SV% in 15 games this season (9-6-0). The Capitals enter Friday's contest as +136 home underdogs against a Hurricanes club that defeated them 4-2 on November 3rd.

The Capitals have lost consecutive regulation games for only the second time this season and will attempt to return to the win column on Friday with Lindgren between the pipes. Lindgren allowed three goals on 24 shots (.875 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. The 31-year-old Lindgren has a 2.69 GAA and .899 SV% in 15 games this season (9-6-0). The Capitals enter Friday's contest as +136 home underdogs against a Hurricanes club that defeated them 4-2 on November 3rd.

Eller is battling an illness and will be shut down until after the Christmas break. The 35-year-old Eller has 13 points (6G / 7A) in 33 games this season, including six points (2G / 4A) in 16 games with the Capitals.

Ovechkin has skated with the team the last week and was finally upgraded to a full-contact jersey, but will remain out of the lineup for at least one more week. The 39-year-old Ovechkin was well on his way to surpassing Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record (894) before his injury this season. He is 27 goals away, a feat that continues to be jeopardized with each game he misses.

Ovechkin has skated with the team the last week and was finally upgraded to a full-contact jersey, indicating his return to the lineup is likely on the horizon. The 39-year-old Ovechkin was well on his way to surpassing Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record (894) before his injury this season. He is 27 goals away, a feat that continues to be jeopardized with each game he misses.

Lapierre will be the odd-man out on Tuesday to make room for the return of Andrew Mangiapane, who missed Monday's game in Dallas with an illness. Lapierre is yet to score a goal in 24 games this season.

Mangiapane will immediately return to the Capitals lineup after being a late scratch for Monday's game in Dallas. He will reclaim his spot with Jakub Vrana and Lars Eller on Washington's third line and should also feature on the team's second power-play unit. Hendrix Lapierre will sit in his place.

Thompson will make his 16th start of the season when the Capitals travel to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks on Tuesday. Thompson collected yet another victory his last time out, allowing two goals on 21 shots in a 4-2 win over the Sabres. He owns a .913 SV% on the season to go along with a remarkable 12-1-2 record. He's got a great chance of staying in the win column on Tuesday as the Capitals enter action at -190 on the money line.

Mangiapane was a surprise scratch on Monday, with the team not announcing his absence until the start of warmups. Hendrix Lapierre will take his spot in the lineup.

The Capitals will turn to Lindgren between the pipes on Monday against the Dallas Stars, continuing their even goalie rotation over the past month. The 30-year-old Lindgren is sporting a 2.66 GAA and .901 SV% in 14 games (9-5-0) and is riding a four-game winning streak. Lindgren saved 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars earlier this season. The Capitals enter Monday's contest as +140 road underdogs against a Stars club coming off a hard-fought 2-1 overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues.

The Capitals will likely turn to Lindgren between the pipes on Monday against the Dallas Stars, continuing their even goalie rotation over the past month. The 30-year-old Lindgren is sporting a 2.66 GAA and .901 SV% in 14 games (9-5-0) and is riding a four-game winning streak. Lindgren saved 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars earlier this season. The Capitals enter Monday's contest as +140 road underdogs against a Stars club coming off a hard-fought 2-1 overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues.