On the day he signed a three-year contract extension, Washington Capitals defenseman Nick Jensen left the first period of the team’s game against the Anaheim Ducks with an injury.
Jensen left the game early in the first period and was eventually ruled out with an upper-body injury.
INJURY UPDATE: #Caps Nick Jensen sustained an upper body injury and will not return to tonight’s game.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 2, 2023
Jensen skated just 2:29 of ice time on three shifts before leaving the game. His last shift lasted all of 17 seconds before he exited the game.
Jensen appears to have sustained the injury while chasing a puck into the corner and colliding with Ducks’ defenseman Simon Benoit. Jensen’s left shoulder took the brunt of the collision.
Nick Jensen injury. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/jWbVOegX6L
— #ALLCAPS (@JonItBe) March 2, 2023
Jensen, a pending unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season and a possible candidate to be dealt, signed a three-year, $12.15 million deal to remain in Washington through the 2025-26 campaign earlier in the day on Wednesday.
“It’s exciting”, said Jensen of his new deal ahead of the Caps’ Wednesday night tilt agains the Anaheim Ducks, “It’s been a tough time here the last week, losing guys, you’re brothers in the locker room. It’s hard to be happy with that stuff going on but I’m excited to be here, I’m excited to stick around, I’m excited to see what the future has in store for us on this team.
“When I got here, I immediately saw the culture that this organization has built”, Jensen said of why he decided to re-up with the Capitals, “The guys in the room right now, and the guys before, it’s a winning culture. As long as we continue to keep that culture I’m excited to be here, obviously we’re not in the spot we want to be in this season, but as long as that culture continues to remain, guys continue to work for each other, I think it’s going to be a good thing for our team.”
The Capitals will have the day off on Thursday and next hit the ice on Friday for practice in Northern California. They next face the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.
What spares do the Caps have in Anaheim? I think Carlson is with the team but has he recovered enough to play against the Sharks? Sandin is hung up on his P1 visa. Should be available Saturday but, it is the federal government. Who is going to fly out from Hershey? Have to believe someone (or someones) will have to.
The cupboard is getting pretty bare. I suspect we will see a couple get the call from Hershey tomorrow. The Capitals will be off until Saturday, so that’s enough time to make the trip west.
And as you said Jon the Bears have an important game Saturday and the Stingrays are in a tight battle for the playoffs with 3 games this weekend. Could be stressful for all three head coaches. I don’t see Benton heading back south for a while.
When Sundin clears immigration they will only need 1 D if both Jensen and Fehervary are not ready for Saturday. So maybe the Call up is Ness who played here for 3 seasons and would be an experienced player to have in the lineup with a rookie and the new acquisition.
Yes, but the Caps have another California game Monday and we have to expect another 1 or 2 (or 3) Caps players getting injured Saturday. I don’t think the curse has been lifted yet.
Sounds like Ness would be a good choice.
Lets hope that it isnt 3 as then we might as well just bring Hershey up and see what they can do! Caps might be like the NYR with the cap they soon might not be able to bring anyone up. Didn’t NYR play with just 16 skaters last night? I think it was 11 forwards and 5 D. Wow talk about earning your money.
You’re right, 11 and 5. Hadn’t heard that. I know the Bolts have gone with 17 at times and after injuries teams cold be down to 16 by the end of the game, but to start with 16 could be rough. And if they had the Caps injury curse . . .
Ness is only on an AHL contract. The only dee eligible to be recalled are Iorio, Johanson, Carlson, and Nardella. Could give Iorio as shot but play him less than 10 games so he doesn’t lose a year of waivers.
Has Nardella ever been in a Caps game? Actually on the ice not just on ice.
More bubble wrap to Anaheim, stat!