Thursday afternoon, the Capitals placed forward Andre Burakovsky on injured reserve. Burakovsky has been sidelined since breaking his hand blocking a shot during the February 9th game against the Detroit Red Wings. He is expected to be out until mid-to-late March, per head coach Barry Trotz.

#Caps have also placed Andre Burakovsky on IR (but not on LTIR). https://t.co/2PV8HN1phz

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) February 23, 2017

A few hours after sending Travis Boyd back to AHL Hershey, the Capitals called-up forward Riley Barber and defenseman Aaron Ness.

Barber, who recently returned to the Bears lineup after a right hand injury, has scored three goals in his first five games back. Similar to Boyd, Barber was given assurances of an opportunity in Washington during Development Camp by management. Trotz told the prospect that he believed he would make his NHL debut this season. Now with back-to-back games this weekend, the 2012 Draft pick may very well get his chance.

Ness is likely insurance for either defenseman Matt Niskanen or Brooks Orpik. Niskanen suffered a lower-body injury Wednesday night versus the Philadelphia Flyers, and Orpik missed practice Thursday due to a “maintenance day.” Both are listed as “day-to-day” and are questionable to play Friday night against the Edmonton Oilers.

More from the Caps:

The Washington Capitals have recalled forward Riley Barber and defenseman Aaron Ness from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

Barber, 23, has recorded 11 points (7g, 4a) in 18 games with the Bears this season. The 6’0”, 193-pound forward missed 35 games this season with an upper-body injury and has scored three goals in five games since returning to the lineup. Last season, Barber registered 55 points (26g, 29a) in 74 games with Hershey and ranked second among AHL rookies in goals and tied for fourth in points. In addition, he ranked second on the team in goals, points and shots (163) and ranked third in assists. The Pittsburgh native was named the Bears’ 2015-16 Rookie of the Year. He has earned 66 points (33g, 33a) in 92 career AHL games with Hershey. Barber played at Miami University (Ohio) for three seasons from 2012-15 and earned 123 points (54g, 69a) in 116 games. He was drafted by the Capitals in the sixth round, 167th overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft.

Ness, 26, registered two assists in eight games with the Capitals last season. The Roseau, Minn., native made his Washington debut on Jan. 2, 2016 at Columbus and earned his first Capitals point with an assist on Jan. 5, 2016 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 16 points (5g, 11a) in 41 games with Hershey (AHL) this season and ranks second among Bears defensemen in points and tied for second in goals and assists. 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 166 points (34g, 132a) in 383 career AHL games with Bridgeport and Hershey.