The Washington Capitals called up Matthew Phillips from the AHL’s Hershey Bears again on Friday.
Phillips has bounced back and forth from the AHL to the NHL a total of six times since the Capitals reclaimed him from the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 5. The team had just sent him down on Wednesday before this recall two days later.
NEWS | The Capitals have recalled forward Matthew Phillips from the Hershey Bears. https://t.co/nZpQskjoYW
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 5, 2024
Recently, Phillips has been used as an emergency forward under head coach Spencer Carbery. His first recall post-reclaim came once Tom Wilson was levied a six-game suspension by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
Phillips has 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 just 4:15 of ice time in the game. In 28 total games for the Caps this season, he has recorded five points (1g, 4a).
At the AHL level, the Bears have only been able to get Phillips into five total games with the last coming on March 26 against the Providence Bruins. He has three points (1g, 2a) in those games.
Washington has traveled south to Raleigh to play the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night. Phillips joins Hunter Shepard as recent recalls for road trip reinforcements.
Here’s the press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Recall Matthew Phillips
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled forward Matthew Phillips from 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 careerNHL 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).
