The Washington Capitals will remain without John Carlson for at least the next two games.
While Carlson skated ahead of Friday’s morning skate in a no-contact jersey, head coach Spencer Carbery ruled him out against the Vegas Golden Knights and declared that the veteran defenseman will not travel with the Capitals to play the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night. Carlson, 36, suffered a lower-body injury in the team’s final game before the Olympic break against the Nashville Predators.
The earliest Carlson could return to the Capitals’ lineup is a March 3 home game against the Utah Mammoth.
“Continues to progress, day-to-day,” Carbery said. “I don’t think [there is long-term concern]. I mean, maybe you could say that to this point it’s taken a little bit longer, but I don’t think there’s fear of it becoming anything long-term.”
Carlson has 46 points (10g, 36a) in 55 games this season, already missing four outings earlier in the season with two separate upper-body injuries. He was a full participant in the team’s first two practices during the Olympic break, but then began sitting out for what the team called “maintenance-related” issues.
Without Carlson against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Capitals dressed Declan Chisholm, who provided the assist on Trevor van Riemsdyk’s game-winning goal. Four of the club’s defenders, Jakob Chychrun (24:13), Matt Roy (21:04), Martin Fehervary (20:34), and Rasmus Sandin (20:01), played over 20 minutes of ice time in the 3-1 victory.
While the Capitals will remain without Carlson, they will have alternate captain Tom Wilson back from illness on Friday night. Carbery confirmed that Wilson will retake his spot on the right wing of Pierre-Luc Dubois.
