Beginning in 2013-14, the Caps will be in a yet-to-be-named division with the Penguins, Flyers, Rangers, Devils, Hurricanes, New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Braden Holtby was clearly the man, starting 13 of the Washington Capitals' past 14 games, but Neuvirth will get the nod Thursday night at the Carolina Hurricanes.
Marcus Johansson would have liked his return to come in a victory instead of a 4-1 Washington Capitals loss to the New York Rangers, but his play Sunday drew rave reviews from coach Adam Oates.
The Washington Capitals flashed back to January on Sunday afternoon, and that was the last thing they needed. Just like the start of this up-and-down season, blunders masked any semblance of strong play during a 4-1 loss to the Rangers.
According to the NHLPA, 73 percent of players are wearing a visor this season, up from 69 percent last season. The Hockey News reported just 28 percent of players wore a visor in 2001-02.
Johansson, who has missed the past 10 games, passed a neuropsychological test Tuesday to be cleared for contact and is going through the proper protocol to play, a team spokesman said Wednesday.
Doctors are optimistic that New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal will recover fully after being struck in the eye by a deflected puck.
As Green nurses a lower-body injury that could keep him out Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils and possibly beyond that, the Caps know that as valuable as the 27-year-old is in all facets, they can't afford to lose him for too long.
There's a saving grace in the Caps' 5-2-1 record against opponents out of the playoff picture because without those points they would be in an even deeper hole. But sitting 15th in the East isn't a spot they want to be in with two games coming up Thursday and Saturday against the defending conference-champion New Jersey Devils.
