As the Washington Capitals look to snap a six-game losing streak and get back in a playoff spot in a huge game against the Detroit Red Wings, they're making some big changes to the lineup, and one of the more major moves is scratching young top-6 winger Ivan Miroshnichenko.
Miroshnichenko will be the odd man out while Nicolas Aube-Kubel will draw back in for Tuesday's tilt, which carries huge playoff implications for both Washington and Detroit.
For head coach Spencer Carbery, scratching Miroshnichenko is an attempt to try and reignite a spark and get him back to his earlier level of play, as his game has taken a bit of a step back of late.
"I mean, it's to be expected. He's been put in a real tough spot as a young player. You know, doesn’t have a long career in Hershey and playing in the American League, coming right over and being thrown into the fire," Carbery explained to reporters in Detroit, adding, "We'll let him reset."
Related: Capitals Notebook: Oshie TBD, Miroshnichenko Out As Lineup Gets Shakeup For Critical Tilt With Red Wings
The Russian winger has two goals and four assists in 21 games this season. After a bit of a hot stretch in mid-March, his production has dropped off, as he's gone eight games without a point and 13 without a goal.
Washington has five games left on the regular season circuit and sits one point out of a playoff spot, and Carbery believes that the pressure can be a lot for a player like Miroshnichenko, who just turned 20 in February.
"I thought he did a really good job early on, but that's to be expected (that things will hit a wall), right?" Carbery noted. "Especially as the level of play gets ratcheted up here right towards the end, this felt like it’s been a little bit overwhelming for him at times of late."
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Aube-Kubel, who has 16 points in 55 games this season, last played on April 2 against the Buffalo Sabres, logging 12 minutes of ice time and playing on the fourth line with Nic Dowd and Beck Malenstyn. He is expected to play the same role on Tuesday in Detroit while the Capitals also hope to get T.J. Oshie, who is a game-time decision, back into the mix. If Oshie is not available, Mike Sgarbossa will dress.
At the end of the day, Carbery hopes the reset works for Miroshnichenko, and also noted that he could be back in as soon as Thursday, when Washington pays another visit to Buffalo.
Related: Capitals' Tilt With Red Wings Has Biggest Implications Yet; Playoff Odds & How Each Result Will Impact D.C.'s Chances
"We’ll talk to him and work on the things that he needs to continue to work on. But hopefully, you can get back to that level, but it’s challenging," Carbery said. "Young players at his age, being as young as he is, it’s a challenge.”
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