Craig Laughlin is taking another break from the broadcast booth.
Laughlin announced Friday morning that he hasn’t quite been feeling himself after returning from heart surgery and doing color commentary for ten Washington Capitals games over the last month. Locker underwent a procedure to repair a bicuspid aortic valve and a blocked left anterior descending artery in early February.
Laughlin’s leave comes as the Capitals traveled to Montreal for Games 3 and 4 of their first-round playoff series. Monumental Sports Network announced Alan May will serve as color commentator next to play-by-play man Joe Beninati in the interim. Game 5 in DC, if necessary, is scheduled for Wednesday.
“Hey #Caps fans. Unfortunately I haven’t been feeling 100%,” Laughlin tweeted. “My cardiology and medical team have advised me to miss a few games. I’m so disappointed to step away from the booth again, but I can’t wait to rejoin our @MonSportsNet broadcast team very soon. Go Caps!”
Locker initially returned to television on Sunday, March 30 for a Caps home game against the Buffalo Sabres. His timing couldn’t be better as he was in the broadcast booth both for Alex Ovechkin tying (April 4) and breaking (April 6) Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record — one of the motivating factors during his recovery.
The Capitals are currently up in the series 2-0 after winning both of their games at home ice at Capital One Arena. Monumental Sports Network is also without pre and post-game host Alexa Landestoy, who is out due to maternity leave.
RMNB wishes Locker a speedy return to health and feeling better! #LockerStrong
