Caps (6-10-1, 13 points) vs. Carolina (9-7-1, 19 points)
Game » 18
When » Tuesday, Feb. 26
Where » Verizon Center
TV » Comcast SportsNet HD
Radio » WJFK-FM 106.7; WFED-AM 1500
The Capitals recalled forward Casey Wellman from AHL Hershey as a precaution in case Nicklas Backstrom (illness) or Jason Chimera (lower-body injury) can’t go tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Wellman, 25, has 10 goals and 24 assists for the Bears this season. But Backstrom and Chimera were both on the ice for the morning skate on Tuesday. Backstrom took his normal rushes with the second line and Chimera did the same at left wing on the top line. Both men say they will play tonight – though Backstrom apparently had a rough Monday. No further details needed. Wellman, the son of former major league baseball player Brad Wellman, was recalled in case one of those two can’t play.
“I’m confident right now,” Backstrom said.
Meanwhile, defenseman Mike Green (groin) returns to the lineup after missing three games. That pushes Jeff Schultz to the press box as a healthy scratch. He joins veteran defenseman Roman Hamrlik. The easiest move for Washington to create roster space for Wellman is to put injured forward Marcus Johansson on injured reserve. He’s already missed six games in a row and could come back at any time anyway. Braden Holtby makes his seventh start in a row for Washington. Here are the expected lines, if everyone is healthy.
Chimera-Ribeiro-Ovechkin
Fehr-Backstrom-Brouwer
Wolski-Perreault-Ward
Hendricks-Beagle-Crabb
Alzner-Green
Erskine-Carlson
Poti-Kundratek
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