Head coach Peter Laviolette announced after the Washington Capitals’ practice on Saturday morning that right-wing Tom Wilson, who left the second period of the team’s 3-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, and center Nic Dowd, who left Washington’s 4-3 overtime win over the New York Islanders on January 16 with a lower-body injury, will both be unavailable for the final two games before the NHL All-Star Break and the team’s bye week.
Tom Wilson (blocked shot off right leg on Tuesday) won't play before the all-star break (two games left), Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said. Then, they'll see where he is after the break.
Same with Nic Dowd (lower body)
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) January 28, 2023
Wilson, 28, was labeled as a “game-time decision” for Washington’s 3-2 shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
A slapshot by Colorado defenseman Brad Hunt appeared to hit the 28-year-old, who has two goals and three points in seven games this season, close to the foot.
The leg that he was hit on was the opposite one which he had surgery on to repair a torn ACL last May. Wilson missed the first 44 games of the season while recovering from the procedure.
Dowd, who has recorded 10 goals, 19 points, and a 50.9% faceoff-winning percentage in 44 games, sustained the injury after getting hit along the boards by New York right-wing Cal Clutterbuck. Head coach Peter Laviolette said the following day that the 32-year-old will miss some time.
Washington visits the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday (5 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington locally, NHL Network nationally) and play their final game before their bye week at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. After Tuesday’s game, Washington’s next game comes 11 days later at the Boston Bruins.
By Harrison Brown