The Capitals’ roster is at 28, leaving them with five or six cuts to make, depending on whether Washington wants to carry 22 or 23 players until top-line center Nicklas Backstrom (hip) is healthy. Washington Coach Barry Trotz said that he doesn’t expect the team to make any cuts before the preseason finale, saving the final decisions for after with nearly a week in between the last exhibition and the regular season opener.
The plan is to play goaltender Braden Holtby for the entire game on Sunday, meaning the Capitals have seen the last of Philipp Grubauer and Justin Peters — both contending for the backup role — in preseason games.