The Washington Capitals optioned Matthew Phillips back to Hershey on Wednesday after the forward was a healthy scratch in the Caps’ 6-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
Since being reclaimed from the Pittsburgh Penguins in early March, Phillips has ping-ponged between Washington and Hershey and used as an emergency forward under Spencer Carbery. He’s only suited up in one Capitals game down the stretch — the team’s 7-6 shootout win over the Carolina Hurricanes on March 22. Phillips skated 4:15 in the game.
Phillips re-joins a Bears’ team that clinched Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference titles on Tuesday night. Hershey has seven games remaining in its regular season before the club turns its full attention to defending its Calder Cup championship from the year before. Hershey will get a first-round bye in the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs.
Here’s the full press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Loan Matthew Phillips to Hershey
Forward has recorded three points in five games with Hershey this season
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have loaned forward Matthew Phillips to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Phillips, 25, has recorded five points (1g, 4a) in 31 games with the Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins this season. Phillips, who played 27 games for Washington before being claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh on Feb. 16, was reclaimed by the Capitals on March 5. Phillips scored his first career NHL goal and tallied his first assist in the Capitals’ 3-2 shootout win over the Calgary Flames on Oct. 16. Phillips has appeared in five games with Hershey this season, registering three points (1g, 2a).
Phillips, a Calgary native, was drafted by the Flames in the sixth round (166th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft and spent seven years in the Flames organization before signing with Washington last summer. In 34 career NHL games with the Capitals, Penguins and Flames, Phillips has recorded five points (1g, 4a).
Phillips recorded 76 points (36g, 40a) in 66 games with the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL in 2022-23. Phillips led the AHL’s top-regular season team in scoring and ranked second in the AHL in goals and fifth in points. Phillips was named to the AHL’s First All-Star Team last season and played in the AHL’s All-Star Game in 2020. In 270 career AHL games, Phillips has registered 240 points (104g, 136a).
