Your favorite player might play in the biggest game of the season. Smiling god/defenseman Nate Schmidt has been recalled from the Hershey Bears. If he plays in game seven on Wednesday, he’ll be filling in for Tim Gleason, who was beleaguered and banged up in game six.

Gleason wound up with four third-period shifts last night, but none after 10:57.

— Alex Prewitt (@alex_prewitt) May 11, 2015

With Gleason out (but not necessarily because Gleason was out), the Capitals dominated the final ten minutes of that game.

When Nate Schmidt and Mike Green were on the ice together during 5v5 this season, the Capitals controlled 55.1 percent of the shot attempts.

From the Caps:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 11, 2015

Capitals Recall Nate Schmidt from Hershey

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled defenseman Nate Schmidt from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

Schmidt, 23, registered four points (one goal, three assists) in a career-high 39 games with Washington this season. The St. Cloud, Minn., native made his NHL debut last season and earned six points (two goals, four assists) in 29 games. In 68 career NHL games, Schmidt has registered 10 points (three goals, seven assists) and 16 penalty minutes.

Schmidt registered eight points (three goals, five assists) in seven games with Hershey during the 2015 Calder Cup playoffs and ranks tied for seventh in the AHL in playoff points and goals and tied for eighth in the League in assists. Schmidt tallied three assists on May 1 against Worcester and registered three points (one goal, two assists) on May 8 against Hartford. The 6’0”, 193-pound defenseman appeared in 19 games with Hershey during the 2014-15 regular season, recording nine points (three goals, six assists). Schmidt has recorded 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) and 20 penalty minutes in 65 career regular-season games with the Bears.