Photo: Capitals

Wednesday morning, the Washington Capitals game day morning skate at Madison Square Garden ahead of tonight’s game against the New York Rangers (8:00 P.M. ET on NBCSN). Here is news from the morning skate.

Injuries

Three players will be out of the lineup tonight due to upper-body injuries: forwards Carl Hagelin, Nic Dowd, and Nicklas Backstrom. Hagelin has missed six games and Dowd has missed three. Backstrom’s injury came to light after Monday’s victory over the Anaheim Ducks, according to Head Coach Todd Reirden.

Hagelin has been placed on long-term injured reserve and will be eligible for activation on December 3. Dowd is on injured reserve and could return on November 21. Backstrom is listed as day-to-day.

#Caps Nicklas Backstrom (upper body), Nic Dowd (upper body) and Carl Hagelin (upper body) will not play tonight vs NYR and are listed as day to day. Caps place Hagelin on LTIR (eligible to be activated Dec. 2) and Nic Dowd on IR (eligible to be activated Nov. 21)

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 20, 

Recalls

Because of the injuries, the Capitals recalled forwards Beck Malenstyn and Mike Sgarbossa, defenseman Tyler Lewington, and goaltender Ilya Samsonov from the AHL’s Hershey Bears. They also re-assigned netminder Vitek Vanecek back to Hershey.

Lineup

Here is the projected lineup for tonight’s tilt in the Big Apple. Holtby is expected to start.

Capitals expected lines vs Rangers:

Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Eller-Oshie
Panik-Sgarbossa-Boyd
Malenstyn-Stephenson-Leipsic

Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Gudas
Siegenthaler-Jensen

*No word on Hathaway yet
*Backstrom out, upper body
*Hagelin on LTI, Dowd on IR

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) November 20, 2019

Hathaway, Sgarbossa, Lewington, Malenstyn and Samsonov are all on the ice as the #Caps’ a.m. skate begins at MSG. No word on Hathaway’s status. pic.twitter.com/p1l0RjlIt4

— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) November 20, 2019

Michael Sgarbossa talks with the media before making his #ALLCAPS debut tonight. pic.twitter.com/18Af58ylyE

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 20, 2019

Hathaway’s Hearing

Forward Garnet Hathaway had a hearing via phone call this morning. This came after Hathway’s match penalty for spitting on Ducks’ defenseman Erik Gudbranson during a brawl in Monday’s win. A decision will be made later today.

Update: Hathaway already had his hearing via phone call this AM. A decision will not be announced until later today.

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) November 20, 2019

Todd Reirden has not heard an official decision on Hathaway’s hearing. He plans on hearing something in the next couple hours.

“I obviously hope that we do have him, if not, we are prepared for what comes our way.”

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) November 20, 2019

Caps Today

CAPS TODAY: John Carlson recorded his 25th, 26th and 27th assists in his 23rd game on Monday, marking the 15th time in NHL history that a defenseman recorded 25 assists in 23 games or fewer to start a season. More info on Carlson and the Caps at https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/ZoUQ2tflX5

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 20, 2019

Weekly reCAP

Top 5 plays from the week that was (excluding last night’s madness):
5⃣ Out of office, off of post
4⃣ Leipsic leaps on rebound
3⃣ Kuzy shootout deke
2⃣ Boyd scores in return
1⃣ Vrana channels Datsyuk
[@MercedesBenzUSA] pic.twitter.com/s0jxrWupJc

— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) November 20, 2019

By Della Young