The Washington Capitals were already pushing the limits of the defensive depth within their organization before Trevor van Riemsdyk was taken out of action with an upper-body injury thanks to a hit from New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe in Game Three. The Capitals held an optional skate on Saturday morning as they continued to assess their options on the backend for Sunday night’s Game Four.
Head coach Spencer Carbery was asked for an update on TVR’s status and confirmed that the veteran blueliner would not dress for the must-win outing. The Capitals will be eliminated in a four-game sweep if they cannot pull off a victory on home ice.
“Not other than [TVR] didn’t skate today and out [tomorrow],” Carbery said.
Van Riemsdyk’s injury is the latest in a series of ailments plaguing the team’s defenders. Rasmus Sandin and Nick Jensen suffered upper-body injuries towards the end of the regular season, Vincent Iorio was taken out by a hit in Game One of the series, and the club has been without Ethan Bear since he entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance program in late March.
The seemingly never-ending march to the injured list has left the Capitals with few additional options if the series continues past Sunday.
“So we’ve got one more NHL contract defenseman,” Carbery said. “I was actually thinking about that if we have some contracts if we need to sign somebody, put someone on an NHL deal. That would be very unique. Very, very unique.”
Chase Priskie is the one defender left in Hershey on an NHL contract. Because the Bears secured a first-round playoff bye, they won’t kick off their first series until early May.
Carbery confirmed there are no current plans to recall Priskie. “Not at the moment,” he said.
Sandin and Jensen did skate again on Saturday in regular practice jerseys. Iorio joined them in a light blue, no-contact jersey.
“They’ve been out so long now that it’s just if they’re able to go tomorrow, great,” Carbery said of Jensen and Sandin. “If they can’t, it’ll just be status quo.”
The status quo would mean another playoff game for Lucas Johansen and Dylan McIlrath. Additionally, it could also mean another playoff debut: if neither Sandin nor Jensen is ready to play, Hardy Häman Aktell will slot into van Riemsdyk’s spot in the lineup.
“I’m happy for those guys,” Carbery said. “I know it’s hard to bring a lot of positives out of the situation and the scenario right now but for those guys who have spent the majority of their careers in the American Hockey League and the majority of their seasons, almost all of them, in the AHL again this year – to come up and play in these scenarios and this situation.
“Their first NHL Stanley Cup playoff games and to be performing and showing that they belong. Really proud of the way that they’ve played and really impressed to be honest with you of handling the moment, playing with poise, and being able to step in these situations and give us solid minutes.”
The Capitals have an optional morning skate planned on Sunday where we’ll get a better indication of how the team will look for Game Four. The potential series-deciding matchup will begin with an 8 pm puck drop inside Capital One Arena.
