Orlov has missed the last four games after being added to the COVID-19 protocol list a few weeks ago. Orlov was activated from the list and was on the ice for the Capitals morning skate, but skated on the "fourth pairing," which suggests he may miss another game on Saturday.
With Adam Boqvist out due to COVID-19 protocol, Carlsson will make his season debut on Tuesday. Carlsson had one assist in six games with Chicago last season.
Gaudette will sit as a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game, which means Zack MacEwen will remain in the lineup in the first of two games against the Senators. Gaudette was held scoreless with a minus-5 rating in his last five games.
The Stars are finally ready to make their season debuts on Friday but they may do so without Klingberg. The All-Star defenseman was missing from practice on Thursday for what head coach Rick Bowness simply called "medical reasons." If Klingberg isn't available, Thomas Harley should suit up in his place and Miro Heiskanen would be on the top power-play unit.
Orlov was among four Capitals added to the COVID-19 protocol list on Wednesday after it was determined they were in a hotel room together during the team's recent road trip. "Right now the players are in quarantine and, at this point, I believe it's four games and then under review and so we'll go from there," head coach Peter Laviolette said. In addition to Orlov, Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Ilya Samsonov are all expected to be out as well.
Grundstrom sat as a healthy scratch in the first two games but will replace Matt Luff (undisclosed) in the lineup on Tuesday. Grundstrom had five goals and eight assists (13 points) in 18 games with Bjorkloven IF (SHL) during his COVID-loan.
White, who played most of last season as the Senators' No.1 centre, has plummeted down the depth chart during training camp. According to head coach DJ Smith, there are "four centres ahead of him that had good camps." Those four centres are Josh Norris, newcomer Derek Stepan, Chris Tierney and Artem Anisimov.
Wennberg was bought out by the Blue Jackets yesterday but signed a one-year "show me" deal with the Panthers. In Florida, Wennberg has a perfect opportunity to serve as their second line centre and get back to his point producing ways. He has not topped 30 points in two straight seasons but registered a career-high 59 points (13G / 46A) in 2017.
Wennberg had three years left on a six-year deal that carried a $4.9M AAV cap hit. The former No.14 overall pick (2013) had struggled since posting 59 points in 2017, averaging just five goals and 22 assists (27 points) over the last three seasons. Still, he has enough skill to be a No.2 centre for a team in need and a good enough two-way game to be a third line centre for a team with better depth.
