With the league’s best record, the Washington Capitals have had very few lineup changes this season. Why tinker with something that’s clearly working? That’s what made Tuesday morning’s sight at Kettler Capitals Iceplex so odd.
With Alex Ovechkin suspended for a game by the NHL for skipping the all-star game, Capitals Coach Barry Trotz moved Stanislav Galiev up to the first line with center Nicklas Backstrom and right wing T.J. Oshie. Galiev has played just 13 games, but Trotz made that move because he didn’t want to disturb the rest of his trios, keeping the second line intact.