Washington Capitals head coach Todd Reirden told reporters that defenseman Michal Kempny’s recovery timeline will be known later this week. He is currently out indefinitely with a lower-body injury suffered from a hit into the boards by Tampa Bay Lightning forward Cedric Paquette in a scrum during the second period in the Capitals’ 5-4 overtime loss to the Lightning on March 20.
Reirden said he will have an update on Michal Kempny’s timetable “this week.” He’s already said that the injury is “long term.” Personally, I’d be surprised to see him play again this season (and that includes playoffs), but we’ll see.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) April 1, 2019
The team is still waiting to get medical test results back to see how long Kempny will be out for and whether or not his injury will require surgery. The Capitals will make an official announcement on his timeline when they know those details.
He will likely miss the Capitals’ final three games of the regular season in addition to some time in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Without Kempny, defenseman Christian Djoos has skated in his spot next to John Carlsonon the defensive top-pairing the past two games. Defenseman Nick Jensen, who was acquired in a trade with the Detroit Red Wings last month, has also seen some time next to Carlson recently.
Kempny leads the Capitals with a +24 rating and has set career-highs with six goals and 25 points while averaging 19:11 worth of ice-time per game. Losing him is a huge blow for the Capitals.
Defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler was recalled by the Capitals from the AHL’s Hershey Bears last week and is currently the team’s seventh defenseman, though he could get some time in the final few games if the Capitals decide to rest a few of their defenseman.
Kempny missed two preseason games and the first two games of the regular season with a concussion suffered from a hit by St. Louis Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo on September 25.
He posted two goals, five points, and a +1 rating while playing all 24 games in the Capitals’ run to the Stanley Cup last season.
Capitals’ Lines at Florida Panthers on Monday night
Caps expected lineup:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Hagelin-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Vrana-Eller-Connolly
Stephenson-Dowd-BurakovskyDjoos-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-JensenCopley
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) April 1, 2019
Forward Brett Connolly will draw back into the lineup after missing the Capitals’ 6-3 win over the Lightning on Saturday due to an illness. Center Travis Boyd will be a healthy scratch.
By Harrison Brown