Quebecers Anthony Mantha and Nicolas Aubé-Kubel will be left out by the Washington Capitals to make room for the return to the lineup of forwards Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson on Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Head coach Peter Laviolette said it was a tough but necessary decision given the presence of 14 forwards in the team’s roster.
“I wouldn’t have a problem if one of these guys was in the lineup today, but they weren’t,” the pilot said, according to the official National Hockey League (NHL) website. I had to make decisions, and that’s where I started.”
Mantha has nine goals and 23 points in 42 games so far this season. He had been limited to 9 min 48 s of playing time on Friday against the Nashville Predators.
Aubé-Kubel has meanwhile tallied two goals and six points in 20 outings, including six with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Backstrom and Wilson will play their first game of the season, having been sidelined with hip and knee injuries, respectively. In their absence, the Capitals still went 22-14-6.
Anthony Mantha participates in the party – December 31, 2022 –
