BALLSTON, Va. - The Washington Capitals got back to work Tuesday at Kettler Capitals Iceplex one day after Dale Hunter took over as head coach. Lines weren't much different than they were during Bruce Boudreau's final days:
Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Troy Brouwer
Cody Eakin - Marcus Johansson - Alexander Semin
Jason Chimera - Brooks Laich - Joel Ward
Matt Hendricks - Jeff Halpern - Mike Knuble
Tomas Vokoun left the ice first, so he will likely start Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. Jeff Schultz and Mathieu Perreault took in extra work with Michal Neuvirth, so they are likely to be the scratches.
Hunter said after practice that he has changed a few things in terms of the Caps' game plan, but did not change too much.
"It is a fine line," he said. "I changed a few things, but you can't make drastic changes because you have no time to practice it. But just a few things and other than three of four things, keep it basically the same."
Mike Green skated for about 45 minutes before and during the beginning of Tuesday's morning skate, but left the ice before practice officially began. Green has yet to return from a groin injury he suffered November 11. Hunter said Green was day-to-day.