The Washington Capitals will seemingly be limping into the NHL’s Olympic break after a rough six-game road trip.
Ahead of the team’s return home to play the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday evening, the Capitals placed forward Connor McMichael and defenseman Matt Roy on injured reserve.
McMichael played in all six games on the trip but missed the final 8:18 of regulation and all of overtime and the shootout against the Detroit Red Wings. Roy has missed the past two games with a lower-body injury.
The source of McMichael’s injury isn’t immediately clear. He had an assist in 16:17 of ice time against the Red Wings before not receiving another shift in the 4-3 win. In 55 games this season, the 25-year-old McMichael has recorded 31 points (8g, 23a).
With McMichael out of action, the Capitals appear likely to recall Russian winger Bogdan Trineyev from the AHL’s Hershey Bears. Trineyev was held out of Hershey’s game against the Rochester Americans on Friday night but was not listed with an injury. He has played two games, including his NHL debut, with the Caps this season.
No Bears defender was held out similarly to Trineyev, which indicates the Capitals will continue to fill Roy’s absence with either Declan Chisholm or Dylan McIlrath. Both extra defensemen were forced to dress against the Seattle Kraken earlier this week after Roy and Rasmus Sandin couldn’t play.
While the Capitals may not be recalling any defensive depth, they could bring another goaltender up from the Bears. Logan Thompson missed the win in Detroit with an upper-body injury, and Charlie Lindgren needed to be carried off the ice after the shootout.
Clay Stevenson is already with the team, and his regular backup, Garin Bjorklund, did not start for the Bears on Friday night. Hershey recalled netminder Seth Eisele from the South Carolina Stingrays on Saturday morning, which means Bjorklund is likely headed to DC.
The Capitals are set for 5 pm action against the Hurricanes at Capital One Arena. They are 1-0-1 against Carolina this season.
