Washington Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette told the media after Wednesday’s practice that center Nic Dowd will be out for “a little bit” with a lower-body injury after getting placed on injured reserve, which will require him to miss the next four games.
Center Aliaksei Protas was recalled from the AHL’s Hershey Bears. Laviolette added that the 31-year-old’s injury, which caused him to leave the Capitals’ 5-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday, has nothing to do with the one that kept him out for three games last week. He also said “I don’t think it isn’t anything major.”
CAPS TODAY: Alex Ovechkin required the second-fewest games in NHL history by a 36-year-old player to reach the 20-point mark in a season (11g, 10a in 12 games). More info on the #Caps captain and Caps Clips at https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/cjd1rgEvub
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) November 10, 2021
Laviolette said that he is hopeful that Dowd will be ready to go by the time the seven days (that he is required to miss due to injured reserve rules) expires.
He also said that the Capitals will take three goaltenders, including Vitek Vanecek and Zach Fucale (who was also recalled from the Bears), on their short two-game road trip, which will start against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caeser’s Arena on Thursday (7:30 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington. Vanecek appeared to have gotten banged up at the end of Monday’s game but skated on Wednesday.
Head coach Peter Laviolette discusses the latest shuffling of the roster, as well as the upcoming slate of six of the next seven games on the road.#ALLCAPS | @socios pic.twitter.com/9PFWfv7RSJ
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 10, 2021
Fucale said that all he was told was to practice with the Capitals today and bring a suit. The 26-year-old added that he asked for No. 60 for the this season and said it is a full circle moment because he was a fan of former Capitals goaltender Jose Theodore growing up.
“I feel like the last few years have been trending in the right direction. I got a good thing going and I’m just sticking to my game. I feel like things are working well right now.”
Zach Fucale after today’s practice.#ALLCAPS | @MedStarHealth pic.twitter.com/9b6s2f1yyF
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 10, 2021
The Capitals swapped left-wings Carl Hagelin and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby during In the bottom-six during line rushes.
PP1: Carlson, Ovechkin, Wilson, Kuznetsov, Sheary
PP2: Schultz, Ovechkin, Sprong, Orlov, McMichael. https://t.co/845Ouel46M
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) November 10, 2021
And finally, Alex Ovechkin was delivering pizza’s at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Wednesday, all part of a promotion for Papa John’s pizza.
How much does @Capitals captain @ovi8 love the fans? Enough to deliver them some Papa John’s pizzas after practice!#PizzasHere🍕 pic.twitter.com/8qlT803HCO
— Papa John’s of DC (@PapaJohns_DMV) November 10, 2021
NHL News
* Colorado Avalanche C Nathan MacKinnon will miss three weeks with a lower-body injury
* Toronto Maple Leafs C John Tavares (undisclosed injury) will be a game-time decision vs. the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday
* Pittsburgh Penguins defensemen Marcus Pettersson and Chad Ruhwedel (COVID-19 protocol) will be game-time decisions vs. the Florida Panthers on Thursday
By Harrison Brown
