When TJ Oshie went down with an upper-body injury after Warren Foegele cross checked him into the boards, the Capitals worked quickly to bring Devante Smith-Pelly back to DC.
Although Smith-Pelly couldn’t make it onto the ice in time for Friday’s optional skate, Todd Reirden said that he will immediately slot into the lineup.
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With @TJOshie77 out indefinitely with injury, the Caps recall Right Wing @smithpelly23 from @TheHersheyBears #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/SIH4VN9X2J
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 19, 2019
“I do expect him to go right into the lineup,” Reirden said to the media after optional skate. “With the situation where, to get his game back to where it was last year around this time, it was important for him to play a lot of minutes.”
Smith-Pelly racked up minutes in Hershey, scoring six goals and eight assists in his time there, including a hat trick against the Hartford Wolfpack.
Reirden may also be looking for jump in his bottom six forwards, who have Lars Eller’s empty-net goal as their only point in these playoffs. Smith-Pelly provided that depth scoring in the playoffs last season with seven goals, including the game-tying goal against Vegas in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final.
Headline photo: Bruce Bennett
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