Minor Lineup Changes

First off, I'd like to apologize for the late posting today. It's been a nightmare of a day from a travel standpoint.

For the fourth time this season, I was forced to pilot a two-wheel drive rental car ...in an unfamiliar city ...during in a blizzard. (Denver, Calgary and Edmonton were the others, for those keeping score at home).

Anyway, I finally got to Scotiabank Place for practice. The mood on the ice and in the locker room was considerably more serious than it has been recently. Guess a 7-3 debacle like they had Saturday night against Florida dampened their spirits a bit.

Not much to report from the rink, except for a couple of changes to the lineup. Brent Johnson will start in net for the Caps, his first start since Dec. 26 against the Sabres. Remember that one? He yielded four goals on six shots. He's better than that, though, and will get the chance to prove it against the high-flying Senators tomorrow night.

The other switch involved putting enforcer Donald Brashear on the second line alongside Alexander Semin and Kris Beech. Coach Hanlon said he's been looking for way to get Brashear's minutes up.

"Brash is a big bodied guy who creates havoc in front," Hanlon explained. "And it forces other coaches to make some [matchup] decisions."

Not sure how that's going to work out, but it sure should be interesting.

I'll check in again after tomorrow's morning skate.