20 Lars Eller C

Eller scored a goal on two shots and added two PIM in Tuesday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Penguins.

Eller joined an odd-man rush in the first period and buried a shot from the right faceoff dot, giving Washington a 1-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. It was Eller's first goal of the season. The 31-year-old has reliably produced in the range of 15 goals and 30 points for each of the last three seasons and is only a fantasy option in deeper leagues.

Eller tallied an assist and a minus-1 rating while logging 15:13 of ice time during Thursday's 6-4 win over the Sabres.

The helper puts Eller on a point-per-game pace, but the lack of power-play time and a top-six role will significantly limit the Danish center's offensive upside over the course of the season. Those in deeper leagues where the 31-year-old might be an option should monitor his production in the early going.

Eller did not skate with either of Washington's power-play units during Thursday's practice, Samantha Pell of The Washington Post reports.

Eller had been a mainstay on Washington's second power-play unit in recent seasons, averaging 1:44 of ice time with the man advantage during the 2019-20 season. The Danish center has produced at a 30-plus point pace each of the last three seasons, but his production could falter without regular power-play opportunities, so those in deeper leagues considering drafting him should keep the reduced role in mind on draft day.

Eller (personal) went minus-4 and won only 6-of-19 faceoffs in Friday's 5-2 loss to the Islanders in Game 2.

Eller had to play on the second line Friday due to Nicklas Backstrom (concussion) being unavailable. The return didn't go well for Eller, who missed three games after leaving the bubble for the birth of his child. He was on the ice for all four of the Islanders' even-strength tallies. The Danish center will be in a top-six role for as long as Backstrom is out -- the Capitals will hope he can adjust to the added responsibility.

As expected, Eller (personal) will return to the lineup for Friday's Game 2 against the Islanders, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.

Eller's return to the lineup couldn't come at a better time for the Capitals, as they'll be without their No. 1 center Nicklas Backstrom, who's in the NHL's concussion protocol following a questionable hit from the Islanders' Anders Lee during Game 1, for Game 2 at a minimum. Eller's no Backstrom, but he put up solid numbers during the regular season, notching 16 goals and 39 points in 69 contests, and he's more than capable of skating in a top-six role and contributing on the power play.

Coach Todd Reirden said Wednesday that he expects Eller (personal) to return to the lineup for Friday's Game 2 against the Islanders, JJ Regan of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Eller missed Wednesday's Game 1 after he left the bubble for the birth of his child. The forward continues to work through health and safety protocols to return to the team, but as this news suggests, he could be nearing a return. If and when Eller is granted clearance to return to the lineup, he'll likely bump Travis Boyd or Nic Dowd out of the lineup at center.

Eller (personal) will not be available against the Islanders for Wednesday's Game 1, JJ Regan of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Eller left the bubble for the birth of his child and is still working his way through quarantine protocols in order to resume skating with the team. Coach Todd Reirden didn't provide any specifics on when the center might be able to get onto the ice. Until then, Travis Boyd figures to remain in a third-line role with Ilya Kovalchuk and Carl Hagelin.

Eller (personal) is not certain to play Game 1 against the Islanders, Samantha Pell of The Washington Post reports.

Pell notes that while Eller could be out of the coronavirus testing protocol as early as Wednesday morning after exiting the Toronto bubble for the birth of his second child, at that point it will have been a week since he last skated and there are potential conditioning concerns. Expect further updates prior to puck drop at 3pm, but Travis Boyd would likely fill in for the Danish center on the third line if the latter is not ready to return to action.

Eller returned to Washington on Wednesday to be present for the birth of his second child.

Eller will have to self-quarantine for four days after returning to Toronto and re-entering the bubble, so he'll miss the Capitals' final two round-robin games at a minimum. Travis Boyd will likely get the first crack at replacing Eller in Washington's bottom six Thursday against the Flyers.

Eller plans to leave the Toronto bubble in early August for the birth of a child, Samantha Pell of The Washington Post reports.

Eller and his wife are expecting the birth of their second child on or about Aug. 8, just three days before the Capitals are expected to begin first-round action. It remains to be seen if the 31-year-old will miss many games as a result, but needless to say, any prolonged absence would be deeply felt by a Capitals team accustomed to having the Danish forward's two-way abilities in their lineup. When Eller returns, he will have to isolate and test negative for COVID-19 for four consecutive days before being allowed to play.

Eller scored a goal on two shots and won seven of 11 faceoffs (63.6 percent) in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Flyers.

Eller slipped behind the Flyers' defense in the latter stages of the first period and beat goaltender Brian Elliott on a breakaway, breaking a scoreless deadlock. It was the 16th goal of the season and first in six games for Eller, who also matched his career best with 38 points. The 30-year-old has never been a high-end fantasy producer, but he's been a remarkably consistent real-life contributor, scoring between 12-18 goals in eight of the last nine seasons.

Eller registered an assist and two shots during Sunday's 5-3 win over the Penguins.

Eller has four goals and seven points in 10 games during the month of February as he continues to march toward career highs. Should new arrival Ilya Kovalchuck be slotted on the third line, the Danish center could see an increase in his offensive ceiling and is worth a gander for those in deeper leagues.

Eller handed out a pair of assists and had four PIM in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Avalanche.

Eller drew the secondary helpers on Tom Wilson's game-tying and T.J. Oshie's game-winning goals in the third period. Eller has now hit the scoresheet in six of his last eight games and is three points from the career-high 38 he put up in 2017-18. The 30-year-old has consistently landed somewhere between 25 and 35 points throughout his NHL career but has a chance at a 25-goal, 50-point campaign with a strong finish.

Eller scored a goal on two shots in Monday's 5-3 loss to the Islanders.

Eller deposited a Carl Hagelin rebound in the second period to draw the Capitals to within 5-2. After recently enduring an eight-game goal drought, Eller has since found the net three times over his last four games. With 14 goals in 56 games, he's already surpassed the 13 he scored a season ago and his 33 points are five short of his career high.

Eller scored a pair of goals on two shots and had two PIM in Sunday's 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh.

Eller opened the scoring midway through the first period to put an end to his eight-game goal drought, then added his second of the game with just over two minutes left in regulation to draw the Capitals to within 4-3. The 11th-year NHLer is headed toward the most statistically productive season of his career, having accumulated 13 goals and 32 points in 52 games. He has a good chance to eclipse his career highs of 18 goals and 38 points that he posted in 2017-18.

Eller tallied an assist, six shots and three hits during Monday's 4-2 win over the Canadiens.

The helper brings Eller to three goals and seven points in nine games during the month of January, keeping him on pace to eclipse the 40-point mark for the first time in his career. The Danish center is worth a gander in deeper leagues.

Eller notched two points, including the game-winning goal, in a 5-4 overtime win against San Jose on Sunday.

That's now back-to-back contests with two points. Blessed with a knack for coming up big in key moments, Eller's deciding goal was his first game-winning marker this season. The defensive-minded forward also contributed three blocked shots in the win. Assuming he maintains his current rate of production for the remainder of the 2019-20 season, Eller is going to eclipse 40 points for the first time in his NHL career.

Eller scored a power-play goal and dished an assist in Friday's 4-3 win over the Hurricanes.

Eller set up Richard Panik for the opening goal in the second period, and then scored one of his own at 2:29 of the third. The 30-year-old has been reliable lately with three goals and four helpers over his last nine contests. Eller is up to 23 points, 101 shots on goal and 26 PIM through 42 games, a career-best pace on offense. His previous best came in 2017-18 when he recorded 38 points in 81 games.

Eller will center the second line between Jakub Vrana and T.J. Oshie for Tuesday's matinee against the Islanders, JJ Regan of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Head coach Todd Reirden is likely trying to spark the third line with the lineup shuffle. While the move may be temporary, the Danish center is at least temporarily in a better offensive position given the capabilities of Jakub Vrana and T.J. Oshie, so if you're looking for value in daily formats, the 30-year-old may be worth a gander.

Eller registered a goal, three shots and a minus-2 rating during Monday's 7-3 loss to the Bruins.

The marker gives Eller two goals and six points in 10 games during the month of December. The 30-year-old Dane seems to be starting to click on the third line with Carl Hagelin and Richard Panik and is on pace to eclipse the 40-point barrier for the first time in his career, which gives him some modest fantasy appeal in deeper formats.