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Nicolas Aube-Kubel Suspended Three Games

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The NHL’s Department of Player Safety this evening announced a three game suspension for Washington Capitals forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel as a result of an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Callan Foote. As the video accompanying video explains:

“It is important to note that both elements of the illegal check to the head rule are satisfied on this play. First, the head is the main point of contact, as Aube-Kubel’s shoulder makes direct contact with Foote’s head, and it is the head the absorbs the majority of the force of the check. Second, the head contact on this play is avoidable. Aube-Kubel chooses an angel of approach that cuts across the front of Foote’s body, missing his core and picking his head. If Aube-Kubel wants to deliver this hit, he must stay low and choose an angle that leads to a full body check through the shoulder and core rather than one that makes the head the main point of contact.”

The hit in question happened partway through last night’s game between the Capitals and Lightning in Washington. As Foote received a pass and dumped it in near center ice, Aube-Kubel, who was skating parallel to Foote, cut to his right, skating across and in front of Foote, where he delivered the hit. Aube-Kubel was assessed a match penalty.

The three game suspension is interesting, considering Aube-Kubel’s prior discipline history consists of just two fines over 178 career games, this constituting a substantial jump up in punishment. Worth noting though, beyond the nature of the hit, is the fact that Foote was injured on the play.

Dmitry Orlov Skates, Will Join Team On Road Trip; Oshie Will Stay Behind

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  • Despite placing him on IR just yesterday, Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov skated at optional practice this morning and will be joining the team on its upcoming road trip, says NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti. Washington’s road trip begins tomorrow in Tampa Bay against the Lightning and concludes Thursday at the St. Louis Blues. Orlov, who was injured last Saturday, is eligible to come off of IR as soon as tomorrow, as the placement was back-dated to the injury, however it’s unclear what Washington’s plan is exactly. The team had placed Orlov on IR in order to make room for fellow defenseman John Carlson, who the team activated yesterday. Should they wish to activate Orlov, a corresponding roster move would be necessary. Not joining the Capitals on their trip is forward T.J. Oshie, who is on IR dealing with a lower-body injury.

Garnet Hathaway Fined By Department Of Player Safety

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  • The Department of Player Safety announced that they’ve fined Capitals winger Garnet Hathaway $4,054 and Lightning winger Patrick Maroon $2,703 for unsportsmanlike conduct. Those amounts, which work out to 50% of their daily pay, are the maximum permitted in the CBA.  The incident occurred during last night’s game during a review of the check to the head from Nicolas Aube-Kubel on Cal Foote; both players received a five-minute major and a ten-minute misconduct on the play.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel To Have Hearing With Department Of Player Safety

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Following an incident last night that saw Capitals winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel receive a match penalty (which carries an automatic suspension pending league review), the Department of Player Safety has announced (Twitter link) that Aube-Kubel will have a disciplinary hearing later today.

The incident occurred partway through their game against Tampa Bay when he hit Lightning defenseman Cal Foote in the head, a clip of the hit can be seen here.  Foote left the game and did not return with head coach Jon Cooper telling reporters including Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link) that the blueliner is doubtful to suit up tomorrow against Washington in a rematch from last night.  Mikhail Sergachev and Erik Cernak both left Friday’s game as well after blocking shots so the Lightning’s back end is thinned out all of a sudden.

While Aube-Kubel doesn’t have any prior suspensions, he has been fined twice by the league back in January and October of 2021.  He was claimed off waivers from Toronto last Saturday and has played in three games with his new team so far but he may have to wait a little while before he suits up in his fourth contest with Washington.

Capitals Activate John Carlson, Place Dmitry Orlov On IR

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It has been a particularly tough start to the year on the injury front for the Capitals who have been without several key players for the full season while several other regulars were injured within the first few weeks.  However, There’s at least some good news coming as NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti relays (Twitter link) that defenseman John Carlson has been activated off injured reserve, paving the way for him to return tonight against Tampa Bay.  To make room for him on the roster, Washington has transferred blueliner Dmitry Orlov to IR.

Carlson, who has been one of the most productive blueliners in the NHL in recent years, got off to a strong start to his campaign with six points in nine games but suffered a lower-body injury two weeks ago against Nashville.  While Washington won that game, they only were victorious in one of the six contests that Carlson missed.

As for Orlov, he suffered a lower-body injury last Saturday against the Coyotes.  Accordingly, Washington can back-date the placement which means he technically is eligible to return on Sunday at which point they’d need to make another roster move to free up a spot for him.  Orlov has made an early impact with five assists in 13 games while logging over 21 minutes a night.

Even with Carlson’s return, the Capitals are still quite banged up at the moment as joining Orlov on the injured list are forwards Carl Hagelin, Tom Wilson, Nicklas Backstrom, Connor Brown, T.J. Oshie, and Beck Malenstyn; they’ll even be without head coach Peter Laviolette for at least the next two games after he entered COVID protocol earlier today.  Despite the lengthy injury list, they’re hanging around at close to a .500 points percentage as they enter tonight’s game with a 6-7-2 record.

Peter Laviolette Enters COVID Protocol

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While we aren’t dealing with long quarantine lists or vast schedule changes, every once in a while hockey fans are reminded of how the last two seasons played out. Today, Washington Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette has been placed in the COVID protocol, meaning he will not be behind the bench tonight or Sunday. In his place, assistant coach Kevin McCarthy will serve as interim head coach.

Laviolette passed Alain Vigneault for eighth on the all-time wins list earlier this season and is currently tied with him in total games coached at 1,363. Should he make it through this full season with Washington, the veteran coach will climb the all-time board, passing names like Mike Keenan, Pat Quinn, and Ron Wilson.

McCarthy, meanwhile, will finally get a chance – short as it is – to be a head coach in the league. The former NHL defenseman has been an assistant in the league for decades, going back to the Hartford Whalers in 1992. He’s been Laviolette’s right-hand man for a long (long) time, and certainly won’t be overwhelmed by the moment.

The Capitals take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in both games of a home-and-home.

Washington Capitals Activate Alexeyev; Re-Assign Johansen

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After completing a conditioning stint in the minor leagues, Alexander Alexeyev is ready to return to the NHL. The Washington Capitals have activated the young defenseman off of injured reserve, while loaning Lucas Johansen to the Hershey Bears to make room.

It’s a swap of first-rounders for the Capitals, as 2018 comes in to replace 2016 on the roster. Neither one has been able to become a regular at the NHL level, with Johansen playing just two games for the Capitals since being selected 28th overall and Alexeyev making his lone appearance last season. Still, there is a little bit of optimism surrounding the 22-year-old Alexeyev, who should get a chance to secure a spot with the club starting tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In 68 games for Hershey last season, the 6’4″ defenseman recorded one goal and 19 points. He had one assist during his conditioning stint, which lasted four games. Notably, Johansen had already cleared waivers at the start of the season (and in previous years), while Alexeyev would have been at risk of a claim had they tried to give him more time in the minor leagues.

Alex Alexeyev Recalled From AHL Conditioning Loan

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Nov 8: Alexeyev has been recalled from his loan but has not been activated from long-term injured reserve. It is still not clear when he will return to NHL action.

Oct 28: The Hershey Bears are getting a little boost for the next few games, as Alexander Alexeyev has been assigned there on a long-term injury conditioning loan by the Washington Capitals. That means Alexeyev can play a handful of games without having to clear waivers, as he continues to work his way back from offseason shoulder surgery.

A loan of this type is normally for three games (or six days) but can be extended for an additional two depending on how he responds. To be loaned, he doesn’t need to clear waivers, though it did require them to move him from season-opening IR to LTIR. That placement is retroactive to October 11, meaning he shouldn’t have an issue being activated once he’s ready.

What it does mean, however, is that Alexeyev is nearing a return. The Capitals will have a decision to make at that point, as he cannot be assigned to the AHL on a full-time basis without first clearing waivers. With no other waiver-exempt defensemen on the NHL roster, it will mean risking someone to the rest of the league.

Still, there is a lot to be excited about when it comes to the 22-year-old Russian. Alexeyev was a first-round pick in 2018 and made his NHL debut last season, playing just ten minutes. If he can take a step forward and deliver on some of the promise that made him such a highly regarded prospect, the Capitals will have another piece to build around on the back end.

Currently, John Carlson is the only defenseman on the team signed past this season, with Dmitry Orlov, Nick Jensen, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Erik Gustafsson, and Matt Irwin all scheduled for unrestricted free agency. If Alexeyev is ever going to secure an NHL spot, there’s no better time than now.

Latest On Dmitry Orlov

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  • Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov left last night’s contest against the Arizona Coyotes with a lower-body injury. While the full extent of that injury is not yet known, we do have some more information on Orlov’s status. NBC Sports Washington’s Matt Weyrich reports that Orlov wasn’t on the ice for the start of Capitals practice this morning. Per coach Peter Laviolette, Orlov’s status is considered day-to-day.

Dmitry Orlov Injured Against Coyotes

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  • Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov left tonight’s game with a lower-body injury and is questionable to return, the team announced. It’s unclear what exactly caused the injury to Orlov, however he has played just 7:02 thus far as the Capitals lead the Arizona Coyotes 1-0 late in the second period.

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