BALLSTON, Va. - The Washington Capitals returned home to Kettler Capitals Iceplex Monday for practice, but after a 0-2 road trip against the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks, the once-static forward lines saw some interesting changes:
Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Troy Brouwer
Jason Chimera - Marcus Johansson - Alexander Semin
Matt Hendricks - Brooks Laich - Joel Ward
D.J. King - Mathieu Perreault -Jeff Halpern - Mike Knuble
Meanwhile, Mike Green missed his seventh consecutive practice as he continues to recover from a twisted right ankle. Barring a "miracle," according to head coach Bruce Boudreau, Green is likely out Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks.
The Caps return to the ice Tuesday, but according to Boudreau, the forward lines he manufactured in practice might not do the same.
"No," Boudreau said when asked if anything should be read into Monday's lines. "When you have four lines [where] the minutes are equalizing, the only line that's even guaranteeing 17, 18 minutes a night is [Ovechkin's] line."
Both Tomas Vokoun and Michal Neuvirth participated in practice Monday, but no decision was publicly made on who would start Tuesday. Neuvirth returned from injury Saturday in relief of Vokoun in Washington's 7-4 loss to Vancouver.