Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images

The Washington Capitals have re-assigned forward Paul Carey to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. 

The move comes 24 hours before the Capitals leave for their annual western swing of games, signifying another callup may be pending, or Andre Burakovsky is closer to returning than the Capitals were saying. The team will need a 13th forward for the trip.

FROM CAPITALS MEDIA RELEASE:
Carey, 28, made his 2016-17 season debut with the Capitals on Nov. 20 against Columbus and skated in four games with Washington this season. The 6’1”, 198-pound forward appeared in four games with the Capitals last season and scored the game-tying goal in the third period on Feb. 6 at New Jersey, marking his first NHL goal. Carey was selected by Colorado in the fifth round, 135th overall, in the 2007 NHL Draft and has registered two points (1g, 1a) in 30 career NHL games with Colorado and Washington.

Carey has registered 44 points (16g, 28a) in 48 games with the Hershey Bears this season and ranks third on the team in points, tied for third in goals and fourth in assists. Carey recorded a 19-game point streak from Oct. 26 to Dec. 26 (8g, 14a), marking the longest point streak in the AHL this season and tied for the third-longest point streak in Hershey history. Only Alexandre Giroux (2008-09: 23) and Wes Jarvis (1981-82: 20) recorded longer points streaks for the Bears. He has earned 171 points (71g, 100a) in 280 career AHL games with Lake Erie, Providence and Hershey.