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Despite pounding the Philadelphia Flyers yesterday afternoon, it wasn’t all celebration for the Capitals. Defenseman John Carlson missed the final two periods with an injury, and despite being a possibility for tonight’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he has officially been ruled out. 

Early in yesterday’s afternoon matinee  against the Flyers, Carlson suffered a lower-body injury that kept him out of the final two periods of the contest. While head coach Barry Trotz told reporters he was a possibility, he was officially ruled out this morning, per CSN MidAtlantic’s Tarik El-Bashir. Trotz said that Carlson would likely be able to play in the team’s next game, per Bashir.

Carlson is out tonight, Trotz says.

— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) January 16, 2017

Trotz says Carlson is “close” and hinted the D-man could return next game.

— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) January 16, 2017

While losing such a big part of the team’s blueline could be a problem against a high-flying Penguins offense, the Pens themselves are also without a key cog on the blueline, as their top defenseman Kris Letang has been ruled out and is week-to-week, according to head coach Mike Sullivan. Letang was injured in Saturday’s game versus Detroit.

Carlson is one of the Caps’ most productive rearguards with five goals and 20 assists in 43 games played. Likewise, Letang is one of the top producers on the Pittsburgh blueline, as he has four goals and 19 assists in an injury-riddled 30 games played. However, when healthy, he is one of the most lethal offensive defenseman in the NHL.

It will be interesting to see how the losses of each impact their respective teams, but the on thing that can be certain, is that tonight’s game will surely not disappoint.

By Michael Fleetwood