The Washington Capitals open a two-game road trip Friday night against the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, marking the start of their 16th Mentors' Trip. Coach Spencer Carbery emphasized the ongoing process of building team chemistry amid injuries and a tight schedule. The Blackhawks welcome back star forward Connor Bedard, while the Caps hope to reintegrate Aliaksei Protas.
The Washington Capitals are set to face the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night in Chicago, kicking off a two-game road trip that includes a Sunday matchup against the Nashville Predators. Following the game, both teams will travel to Nashville, where the Blackhawks play the Predators on Saturday. The Caps have secured five wins in their last 16 games, earning points in nine of those contests, as they aim to recapture early-season form.
Coach Spencer Carbery discussed the challenges of maintaining cohesion. “It’s a daily process of us [doing] a bunch of different things, of us trying to teach, trying to make corrections, trying to find some chemistry inside of our group with what it looks like right now,” Carbery said. He highlighted the difficulties posed by players entering and exiting the lineup, a condensed schedule, and limited practice and film time.
For the Blackhawks, forward Connor Bedard returns after missing 12 games due to a shoulder injury. Carbery described Bedard as a “significant challenge,” praising his puck-handling, one-on-one skills, and unique ability to adjust shot angles in tight spaces. “He changes his shot angle as good as anybody in the world when he gets in tight spaces,” Carbery noted.
On the Caps' side, Aliaksei Protas is a game-time decision after missing a three-game homestand; he was activated from injured reserve Friday afternoon. Tom Wilson was placed on injured reserve, retroactive to Jan. 5. Logan Thompson will start in goal for Washington, coming off 32 saves in a recent loss and a strong record against Chicago (4-1-2, 1.95 GAA). Spencer Knight is expected to start for the Blackhawks.
The trip coincides with the Caps' 16th Mentors' Trip, featuring players' fathers. The group enjoyed a team dinner Thursday night, followed by mentors attending a video pre-scout session and morning skate. Young players like Hendrix Lapierre expressed appreciation for the quality time. “It’s awesome... We don’t see our parents often during the year, so it’s awesome to have some quality minutes with them,” Lapierre said. Similar sentiments came from Justin Sourdif and Ethen Frank, who valued sharing the NHL road life with their dads.
Carbery, on his third such trip, enjoys the post-game interactions. “I always appreciate that part after the games, when they’re all lined up giving knuckles to the guys after the game,” he said.
Projected lineups include Alex Ovechkin on the top line for Washington and Bedard centering the first for Chicago.
