Sunday morning the Capitals announced that they have recalled forwards Chandler Stephenson and Garret Mitchell from their AHL affiliate Hershey Bears.

This is Garrett Mitchell’s first NHL promotion. After being drafted by the Caps in 2009, he has spent his professional career exclusively in Hershey, playing in 352 games with the Bears and captaining the team the last two seasons. He is expected to make his NHL debut tonight when the Caps host the Panthers in their regular season finale at Verizon Center.

Pumped for Garrett Mitchell. Hershey’s captain has seen a lot of teammates recalled to D.C. the last 6 seasons. Today, the call was for him.

— John Walton (@WaltonCaps) April 9, 2017

Forward Chandler Stephenson has played in three games this year with the Caps. His recall comes just hours after scoring the game-winning goal against the Toronto Marlies the evening before.  According to Mike Vogel, both call-ups are on an emergency basis and will not count towards the Caps’ fixed number of recalls allowed (the team only has one remaining).

More from the Caps:

The Washington Capitals have recalled forwards Garrett Mitchell and Chandler Stephenson from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

Mitchell, 25, has earned 20 points (10g, 10a) in 70 games with Hershey (AHL) this season. The 5’11”, 198-pound forward has served as captain for the Bears the last two seasons (2015-17) and served as an alternate captain during the 2014-15 season. Last season, Mitchell tallied a career-high 16 assists and posted a career-long six-game point streak (1/2/16-1/15/16: 4g, 4a). In addition, he earned a career-high three points on April 10, 2016 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. During the 2012-13 season, Mitchell earned career highs in points (30), goals (15) and games played (75). The Regina, Saskatchewan, native was selected by the Capitals in the sixth round, 175th overall, in the 2009 NHL Draft and has recorded 102 points (46g, 56a) in 352 career AHL games with Hershey.

Stephenson, 22, has played in three games with the Capitals this season and made his 2016-17 season debut on Jan. 24 at Ottawa. He played in nine games with Washington last season and made his NHL debut on Oct. 15, 2015 vs. Chicago. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, native has earned 38 points (10g, 28a) in 71 games with Hershey (AHL) this season and ranks fifth on the team in assists and seventh in points. Stephenson has set AHL career highs in points, goals, assists and games played this season. The 6’0”, 204-pound forward has earned 81 points (25g, 56a) in 173 career AHL games with Hershey. He was drafted by the Capitals in the third round, 77th overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft.