ARLINGTON, VA — The Capitals will go without the services of Lars Eller in their last three games before the holiday break as head coach Spencer Carbery said Friday that Eller would miss time with an illness and had gone on injured reserve.
“He went to see a doctor yesterday,” Carbery said. “Has an illness and he’s going to be out for a little bit here. So we put him on IR today, which we can put back to Chicago, so [he will be eligible] after the break. But we’ll miss him.”
Since the Caps placed Eller on IR retroactively, he will be eligible to return on December 28 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Eller missed practice when the Capitals returned to MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Thursday, with the team officially labeling his absence as a maintenance day at the time. He did not practice at the team’s morning skate Friday.
Friday night will mark the first time Eller has sat out for injury or illness this season, though his travel timeline kept him out of a game after the Capitals acquired him from the Pittsburgh Penguins last month. In 33 games this season, Eller has recorded 13 points, (6g, 7a), including six points (2g, 4a) in 16 games for Washington.
Hendrix Lapierre will fill in for Eller’s spot on the third line, practicing Thursday on a line with Jakub Vrana and Taylor Raddysh. The Caps will play the Carolina Hurricanes, LA Kings, and Boston Bruins before Eller is eligible to return.
