After missing practice on Monday, both defenseman Karl Alzner and left wing Marcus Johansson were at the Washington Capitals’ morning skate on Tuesday and will be in the lineup against the Detroit Red Wings, a considerable lift to a Washington team that could have had as many as three players out of the lineup because of an injury.
Alzner said his absence from Monday’s practice was nothing more than a maintenance day, though Capitals Coach Barry Trotz said he wasn’t sure if Alzner would play Tuesday because of an upper-body injury he suffered against Winnipeg.
Washington had also recalled defenseman Aaron Ness from Hershey on Sunday, signaling another injury to the defense.