Four Washington Capitals players will miss at least the next four games due to COVID-19 protocols, head coach Peter Laviolette announced to the media Thursday. The Capitals will also be without forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, defeseman Dmitry Orlov and goalie Ilya Samsonov. All four were placed in the league’s COVID absence list Wednesday.
Laviolette added there was a positive coronavirus test among the group and the others were added due to contact tracing.
The Capitals were also fined $100,000 for the players having social interactions without wearing masks. The gathering happened in a hotel during the team’s four-game road trip to start the season in Buffalo and Pittsburgh.
Washington recalled 39-year old Craig Anderson to replace Samsonov. He’ll join Vitek Vanecek as the team’s available net minders. Additionally, Connor McMichael, a 2019 first-round pick, was added to the taxi squad.
Laviolette readjusted the team’s line heading into their first game without Ovechkin, Kuznetsov and Orlov, as relayed by Tarik El-Bashir of The Athletic.
The Capitals are scheduled for their home opener against Buffalo Friday. They’ll play the Sabres again Sunday before the NY Islanders come to DC for a pair of games on Jan. 26 and 28. The earliest the quartet may be available to return is Jan. 30 against Boston.
