Lucas Johansen will make his NHL postseason debut for the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night.
Johansen, the team’s first-round draft selection in 2016, jumps into the lineup for Game Two against the New York Rangers due to an injury crisis on the Capitals’ blueline. The 26-year-old rearguard hasn’t played in an NHL game since November 18 but is being called into action due to defensemen Rasmus Sandin, Nick Jensen, Vincent Iorio, and Ethan Bear all being unavailable.
“Sandin and Jensen out – Johansen will go in the lineup,” head coach Spencer Carbery said post-morning skate. “He’s done a good job, played for us earlier in the year. We’re very familiar with his game having been in the organization for a long time. We’ve got a good grasp on his strengths as a player.
“I think for him, coming into his first NHL playoff game, he’s got a lot of experience. This isn’t just someone that’s being thrown in at 21-22 years old. He’s played a lot of important games in playoff situations. Just looking for reliable minutes which I’m hopeful he’ll provide.”
Johansen was a key member of the Bears’ championship team that won the franchise’s 12th Calder Cup last season. In 32 career AHL playoff games, he has recorded 9 points (2g, 7a).
Here’s our best guess at what the defense pairings could look like with Johansen in the lineup.
Johansen has been with the big club since April 8 after Sandin was taken out of action with an upper-body injury in a loss to the Ottawa Senators. He had spent the first few months of the season with the Capitals before being waived and sent down to the Hershey Bears in mid-December. In six NHL games, he recorded one assist.
With the Bears, Johansen got into just 22 games as he’s battled injury issues throughout the year. The left-shot defender recorded 12 points (2g, 10a) in those games.
