Capitals’ star winger T.J. Oshie was injured in the second period of last night’s 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Oshie would remain on the ice for a brief period before being helped off the ice and taken straight to the dressing room.
The Capitals announced Tuesday morning that Oshie would not practice today, and is still listed as “day-to-day” with an “upper body injury”.
T.J. Oshie will not take part in the Capitals’ Tuesday practice. He is day-to-day with an upper body injury.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 5, 2017
Looks like Chiasson with Kuznetsov and Vrana now that Oshie is out. Fourth line is now Beagle, Graovac and Smith-Pelly. Boyd still on third line.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 5, 2017
The injury occurred along the boards late in the second period when Joe Thornton hit Oshie in the head area and into the boards. There was no penalty called on Thornton.
Thornton, 38, has been suspended in the past, yet his most recent suspension came back in 2010. “Jumbo Joe” seemed to take a less physical approach once he joined the Sharks after being a 100+ PIM machine during much of his Boston Bruins days.
Tom Wilson would waste little time in seeking retribution and went after Thornton early in the third period. The two would drop the gloves at the 2:14 mark of the final frame.
After the game, Capitals head Coach Barry Trotz was asked about the hit. Trotz said he’ll let The Department of Player Safety do its thing, and didn’t have much of an update on Oshie’s condition.
After practice Coach Trotz told the media that he thinks Oshie is “very doubtful” for tomorrows game versus the Blackhawks. Trotz said Oshie he expects Stephenson to play. He also stated there’s a very slim chance that Burakovsky would be back that quickly.