(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Larry MacDougal)
The Capitals recalled Dmitry Orlov Wednesday when they placed John Erskine on long-term injured reserve, but the young defenseman will have to wait a bit longer to make his season debut.
Orlov is expected to be a healthy scratch against the Flyers on Friday night and took part in extra work with the assistant coaches and Jay Beagle, the expected scratch among the forwards, following the morning skate at Wells Fargo Center. Coach Adam Oates said he’s not concerned about sending the wrong message to the 22-year-old defenseman.
“He’s been in the minors. You haven’t been here. Just because you get called up doesn’t mean you play,” Oates said. “You’ve got to earn your spot. He’s going to get his chance, no question, and when he does, hopefully he plays good.”
With Orlov out, the Capitals will feature the same defensive parings in Philadelphia that they used in the 3-2 loss at Vancouver on Oct. 28 including Alex Urbom and Steve Oleksy as the third pair.
>> Michael Latta will suit up for his third NHL contest, centering the fourth line once again, as Washington looks to add a little more sandpaper to the lineup against the Flyers. Latta recorded two goals, two assists and 25 penalty minutes in six games with the Hershey Bears so far this season.
“It’s a tough environment here,” Oates said. “His skill-set — he’s a bit of a tough kid willing to grind and willing to play that type of hockey.”
That means Beagle will sit out a sixth consecutive contest, making the tilt in Philadelphia the eighth time he’s been scratched this season.
>> This weekend marks the Capitals’ first set of back-to-back games this season and the first of four in November. Braden Holtby gets the nod against the Flyers but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Michal Neuvirth face the Panthers Saturday at Verizon Center.
>> Reminder that the Caps-Flyers game will be broadcast on CSN+. The Wizards home opener gets top billing on CSN Friday night.
>> Here are the projected lineups for both teams.
Flyers
Vincent Lecavalier-Claude Girox-Steve Downie
Scott Hartnell-Brayden Schenn-Jakub Voracek
Matt Read-Sean Couturier-Wayne Simmonds
Michael Raffl-Adam Hall-Zac Rinaldo
Nicklas Grossman-Braydon Coburn
Mark Streit-Luke Schenn
Kimmo Timonen-Erik Gustafsson
Steve Mason is expected to start.
Capitals
Erat-Backstrom-Fehr
Laich-Johansson-Brouwer
Chimera-Grabovski-Ward
Volpatti-Latta-Wilson
Alzner-Carlson
Schmidt-Green
Urbom-Oleksy
Holtby, Neuvirth.
