McIlrath will slot in for John Carlson, who is out with an illness. McIlrath has zero goals and two assists in 13 games this season.

Chychrun was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with the Capitals announcing his absence about five minutes prior to the start of warmups. Dylan McIlrath will draw into the lineup in his place.

Nikita Nesterenko will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings, allowing Leason to re-enter the lineup. The 27-year-old Leason is averaging 13:01 time-on-ice and has 17 points (5G / 12A) in 61 games this season.

With Logan Thompson still sidelined, Lindgren will return to the crease on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Lindgren struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 22 shots (.818 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders. The 31-year-old Lindgren has a 2.71 GAA and .894 SV% in 36 games this season (18-13-3). The Capitals enter Thursday's contest as +121 home underdogs against a Hurricanes team coming off a 3-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

Thomas was a fourth-round pick, 104th overall, of the Capitals in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old forward has impressed in his fourth season in the OHL, scoring 104 points (27G / 77A) in 66 games with the Brantford Bulldogs.

Jansen Harkins will draw back into Anaheim's lineup on Wednesday against the Calgary Flames, sending Leason to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Leason is averaging 13:01 time-on-ice and has 17 points (5G / 12A) in 61 games this season.

Jensen Harkins will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Edmonton Oilers, allowing Leason to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Leason is averaging 13:06 time-on-ice and has 17 points (5G / 12A) in 60 games this season.

With Matt Roy (personal) returning to the lineup, McIlrath will return to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 32-year-old McIlrath is averaging 11:08 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) in 13 games this season.

Taylor Raddysh will draw back into Washington' lineup on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks, resulting in Beauvillier being a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Beauvillier is averaging 11:58 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 12 games with the Capitals this season.

Thompson was pulled after allowing three goals on 12 shots in the first period of Wednesday's game in Carolina. Charlie Lindgren replaced Thompson and will likely see an increase workload if Thompson is out of the lineup. The Capitals recalled Hunter Shepard from the Hershey Bears (AHL) in a corresponding move.

Lindgren was likely slated to be between the pipes on Friday regardless, but with Logan Thompson battling an upper-body injury, it became inevitable. The extent of Thompson's injury remains unclear, but Lindgren could be due for an increased workload for the remainder of the season. The 31-year-old Lindgren has a 2.66 GAA and .897 SV% in 34 games this season (17-12-3). The Capitals enter Friday's contest as enormous -401 home favorites against a Chicago Blackhawks team amid a four-game losing skid (0-3-1).

Roy did not playing Washington's previous two games, away from the team for personal reasons, but will re-enter the lineup on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 30-year-old Roy has 24 points (3G / 21AA) in 63 games this season.

Leason will slot in for Nikita Nesterenko when the Ducks travel to Calgary on Thursday. He'll start the game alongside Jansen Harkins and Isac Lundestrom on the Ducks fourth line.

Thompson was pulled after allowing three goals on 12 shots in the first period of Wednesday's game in Carolina. Charlie Lindgren replaced Thompson and should see a major increase in playing time should Thompson be forced to miss an extended period of time.