Peter Laviolette announced during the Capitals’ optional skate on Tuesday that Evgeny Kuznetsov and Ilya Samsonov will travel with the team to Boston for Games Three and Four.
The two players are reacclimating themselves in the wake of being suspended by the team for disciplinary reasons and almost a two-week stay in the protocol. The two Russians partook in Capitals’ practice on Sunday and Monday and sat in the press box for Game Two.
The news was reported for by The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir.
Kuznetsov and Samsonov’s accessibility comes as the Capitals have injuries at the center and goaltending positions. Lars Eller left Game Two in the second time frame with a lower-body injury and didn’t return.
Vitek Vanecek suffered a lower-body injury in the first period of Game One and was not accessible to the team for Game Two. In Vanecek’s absence, Craig Anderson has stepped in and halted 65 of 71 shots in relief, posting 2.13 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. Anderson was the triumphant goaltender in Game One and the starter for Game Two. He’s the conceivable starter for Game Three too.
Both Eller and Vanecek missed practice on Tuesday and didn’t take the ice.
In the interim, it’s unclear if the Hershey Bears included, including possible center option Connor McMichael, will travel with the team or not to Boston.
