After the Capitals’ 3-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, Capitals head coach Todd Reirden gave updates on injured players Braden Holtby, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Michal Kempny.
Reirden also discussed the hit that injured TJ Oshie late in the game.
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Evgeny Kuznetsov
Evgeny Kuznetsov was injured in the first period after being elbowed in the head by Brandon Tanev.
Reirden said that removing Kuzy from the game “was more precautionary. Obviously a blow to the head. We need to continue to evaluate him tomorrow, but we needed to make sure he didn’t return to the game tonight.”
Braden Holtby
After Pheonix Copley started Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild, Braden Holtby was scheduled to take on the Winnipeg Jets. Instead, the Holtbeast got injured — the team is terming it an upper-body ailment — during a workout on the ice.
“That was this morning,” Reirden said. “He came over with our goalie coach and did a skate this morning. Not able to backup or play. It was kind of a game-time decision. He wasn’t able to participate tonight.
“We’re going to evaluate again,” Reirden continued. “He’s going to be looked at tomorrow morning and see how he’s reacting to the treatment he’s getting.”
Michal Kempny
Reirden also told the press that Capitals defenseman Kempny missed the game because he was sick.
“We’ll continue to evaluate all the injuries tomorrow and hopefully we can be ready for Colorado,” Reirden said.
Despite the loss, Reirden was very pleased with his team.
“I was really proud of our guys tonight,” Reirden said. “You lose an elite player like Kuznetsov. You have Pheonix Copley playing his first back-to-back. Kempny’s sick. I really liked our effort. That first period was outstanding. It was one of our best periods of the year to come into this building and do the things we did.
“Obviously Kuznetsov doesn’t return for the second,” Reirden continued. “We get shortened numbers on our bench and then they take advantage of some tired bodies back to back. I was really, really happy of the effort of our players. Certainly, we have not liked our back-to-backs early in the season. Obviously, you want to leave with the win but I was proud of the character of our guys.”
