#lineup-changes

#lineup-changes

The Washington Capitals appear as if they'll be missing veteran winger Tom Wilson for a seventh straight game on Saturday night. The 31-year-old forward was a full participant in the team's morning skate before they host the Florida Panthers, but stuck around for extra work in the typical scratches skate. With Wilson probably sitting out again, Sonny Milano joining him, and Justin Sourdif still on injured reserve, the Caps will likely see both Ivan Miroshnichenko and Brett Leason get a sweater against Florida.

There isn't one songwriter, and so the flavour of the band is always going to change, says Dave Vanian, reflecting on 50 years of the group of which he has been the sole constant member, the Damned. Captain Sensible is a great fan of syrupy pop music and prog and glam rock. So his writing is very poppy, melodic and quite wonderful.

Matthew Knies was absent from the morning skate. Knies has recorded 12 goals and 38 points in 43 games this season, but hasn't registered a point in his past four games. If Knies is able to play, he may be placed on the top line with Auston Matthews and Max Domi, while Bobby McMann drops down to the fourth line. McMann skated with Matthews and Domi during Thursday's morning skate.

The Miami Heat have lost four of the last five games and are currently in the midst of one of the most difficult stretches this season. And it isn't getting any easier. After three consecutive double-digit road losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers and OKC Thunder, respectively- the Heat are back home. However, they face some tough matchups in these next few home games against some contending opponents, beginning with Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns Tuesday night.

Caps head coach Spencer Carbery labeled Protas a game-time decision ahead of the team's game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night. The Belarusian winger was again a full participant in the team's morning skate, and Carbery previously hinted that both Protas and Tom Wilson could dress on the current two-game road trip. "We'll find out [if Protas is good to go]," Carbery said pregame. "I'll find out this afternoon."

📸: RMNB Justin Sourdif gave Capitals fans one of the most fun individual efforts of the season, recording five points and scoring his first career hat trick against the Anaheim Ducks. Sourdif had fantastic chemistry with Connor McMichael and Ryan Leonard in their first game together. Now the question becomes - Can the Young Guns 2.0 keep it up against a usually-stingy defensively Dallas Stars team.

We are not sure of the cause of the injury, and whether it is upper or lower-body, which could be a good or bad thing. Berube mentioned that he doesn't believe that the injury is a reason for concern, but the Leafs won't know until the testing is completed. McCabe suffered an upper-body injury back on November 22nd, but did not miss anytime.

Nylander is day-to-day still. He's doing better but still day-to-day. Matthews will be a game-time decision. Tanev is lower-body, it's not the same injury. He's getting evaluated today so we'll have a better timeline later today on him,

We've come to this realization that it's time because - and I say this as humbly as I can - we're coming up on almost 30 years of the band being together. We have 26 Top 10 singles and 12 number ones. I mean, God, this record we're feeling is probably the best work we've ever done.

After getting shellacked 5-1 by Winnipeg on Saturday, the Washington Capitals will complete their frigid two-game road streak in St. Paul against the Minnesota Wild. The Wild come into the game riding a major high after acquiring Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Quinn Hughes. "He's a human one-man breakout," Alan May remarked on the Capitals pregame show on Monumental Sports Network. "He's as good as anyone I've seen," his former coach, Bruce Boudreau, added.

The Flyers are having a good season and are hoping that this is the one where the team makes it into playoff contention. Philly is 15-9-3, just outside of the Eastern Conference wild card picture as of this afternoon. Philly's top scorer is Trevor Zegras. The former Anaheim Duck has 26 points in 27 games. He and Tyson Foerster are tied for the team lead with 10 goals apiece. Young Matvei Michkov is having an up and down season after coming into camp out of shape. He's working through some NHL growing pains. He has 16 points this season.

I'm excited to join the group. It's never fun to be on the sideline and watching your teammates battling. They've been playing some super good hockey, and I feel extremely excited to join the group and be able to come back to battle with them.

Benoit was absent from the Leafs lineup on Saturday as he flew home to attend a funeral. He re-joined the team on Monday for practice with head coach Craig Berube confirming that he would be back in the lineup against the Panthers. Dakota Mermis, meanwhile, will be the one coming out as the Leafs look to start stringing some wins together amidst a slow start to the season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs finally have some good news on the injury front, as forward Scott Laughton returns to the lineup after missing six games with an upper-body injury sustained against the Boston Bruins on November 8. It's a much-needed boost for a lineup still juggling key absences and looking to build momentum after a gutsy 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night.