Miroshnichenko joins Capitals lineup vs Blues

The Washington Capitals will begin a three-game road trip with a matchup against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night. In their last game, a 3-2 overtime defeat to the Colorado Avalanche, the Capitals lost winger Ethen Frank due to a lower-body injury.

This injury, although not expected to be long-term, will keep Frank out of the contest against the Blues, allowing Ivan Miroshnichenko to step into the lineup for the first time since January 19. Head coach Spencer Carbery confirmed that Miroshnichenko will play, stating that Frank is day-to-day.

Frank's injury occurred when Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews shoved him into the goal post during a net drive. He played just 1:22 of ice time in the first period before leaving for the locker room. Miroshnichenko was recalled by the Capitals on March 6 after the trade deadline and has been a healthy scratch for eight consecutive games since then.

This injury to Frank presents Miroshnichenko with an opportunity to showcase his skills as he subs in on the right wing of the fourth line. The 22-year-old forward has appeared in four games this season and has yet to score.

He has never faced the Blues in his 43 career NHL games. The projected lineup for the game against the Blues features Alex Ovechkin, Dylan Strome, and Anthony Beauvillier on the first line, and Miroshnichenko alongside teammates Duhaime and Lapierre on the fourth line.

Charlie Lindgren was the first goaltender off the ice for the Capitals, having last played on March 12 against the Buffalo Sabres. In his career against St. Louis, Lindgren has a record of 1-2-1 with a 3.22 goals-against average and an .857 save percentage.

The Capitals previously defeated the Blues 6-1 in their first meeting of the season on November 5, where Ovechkin scored his 900th career goal. The Blues currently sit seventh in the NHL's Central Division and 28th in the overall league standings, having won their last game 3-1 against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.