During Wednesday night’s victory over the Boston Bruins, Matt Niskanen was hurt on a terrible, no good, very bad hit by Patrice Bergeron. Niskaken did not return to the game and the Caps announced today that he won’t travel with the team to Buffalo.
According to John Walton, it will be the first game Niskanen will miss as a member of the Washington Capitals.
#Caps Matt Niskanen is listed as day-to-day (upper body) and will not travel to Buffalo.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 8, 2016
Niskanen was sent head-first into the boards. His neck bent in an awkward position.
The good news is Niskanen is listed as day-to-day, so hopefully the injury isn’t too serious. Missing Niskanen for any long period of time would be a big blow to the Caps blue line. He skates 22:01 per game, second among all the Caps’ defenders, as well as second in shot attempt percentage. This will be the first game Niskanen has missed since joining the Caps.
Taylor Chorney will likely get the call in Buffalo, but the team has recalled an extra defender as a precaution – Aaron Ness.
NEWS: The #Caps have recalled defenseman Aaron Ness (@Aaron_Ness) from @TheHersheyBears. #CapsSabres #RockTheRed https://t.co/Cv1WhuNsKx pic.twitter.com/O5H8VrGKOo
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 8, 2016
More from the Capitals:
The Washington Capitals have recalled defenseman Aaron Ness from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Ness, 26, registered two assists in eight games with the Capitals last season. The Roseau, Minn., native made his Washington debut on Jan. 2 at Columbus and earned his first Capitals point on Jan. 5 at Boston. Ness was drafted by the Islanders in the second round, 40th overall, in the 2008 NHL Draft and has recorded five points (1g, 4a) in 37 career NHL games with the NY Islanders and Washington.
Ness has registered nine points (3g, 6a) in 17 games with Hershey (AHL) this season and ranks tied for first among Bears defensemen in goals (3) and third in points (9) and assists (6). Last season, Ness ranked second among Bears defensemen in points (27) and assists (21), tied for second in goals (6) and third in plus/minus (+12). The 5’10”, 184-pound defenseman has registered 159 points (32g, 127a) in 359 career AHL games with Bridgeport and Hershey.
