The Washington Capitals defeated the Boston Bruins 2-0 at Capitals One Arena, keeping their playoff hopes alive for another day. But it came at a price.
Beck Malenstyn was injured late in the second period by a high, late hit delivered by noted Bruins pest Trent Frederic.
After the game, Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery gave a short update on Malenstyn — a staple on the team’s fourth line this season.
“He’s gonna travel,” Carbery said. “We’ll assess tomorrow.”
Traveling with the team means Malenstyn could play if he recovers in time from his upper-body injury. If not, the Capitals could plug Ivan Miroshnichenko or Michael Sgarbossa into the lineup in his place. Malenstyn skated with Nic Dowd and Nicolas Aube-Kubel against the Bruins.
Not only has Beck been one of the team’s main shutdown forwards at five-on-five — he’s received a team-high 551 5v5 defensive zone starts — but he’s also a mainstay of the team’s penalty kill, skating more minutes (211:07) down a man than any other Capitals forward. Malenstyn leads the team in hits (237) and all Capitals forwards in blocked shots (92)
If Malenstyn can’t suit up, Tom Wilson may get even more responsibility as a shutdown forward against the Flyers.
The gritty forward has missed only one game this season and it was not due to injury. Malenstyn attended the birth of his first child, Beau.
He has 21 points (6g, 15a) in 80 games this season.
