With Miroshnichenko drawing in, Jakub Vrana will draw out of the lineup as the healthy scratch while Hendrix Lapierre remains in after a number of healthy scratch. Carbery wants Vrana to work on his game without the puck and said that he liked what he saw from Lapierre on Thursday, though there's still some rust to shake off.

Alex Ovechkin is on injured reserve, and the Washington Capitals are coming to grips with playing without their superstar captain for the coming weeks. Ovechkin is considered week-to-week with a lower left leg injury and going on IR rules him out for at least the next three games.

It's just hasn't been the same without Alex Ovechkin, and the Washington Capitals know it. That was the story again on Thursday, as Washington's offense struggled to come together as the team found itself outplayed and outdone by the New Jersey Devils in a 3-2 loss.