Seven players injured through eight games
Injuries are a part of any NHL season. The long grind of an 82-game schedule is guaranteed to wear down all but the deepest organizations.
Luckily for the Capitals, they possess the kind of depth that can push a team through a tough stretch. Recall center Mathieu Perreault from AHL Hershey — as they did on Saturday night against Atlanta — and he produces two assists in his first game of 2010-11.
But Washington is walking a fine line already during this first month of the season thanks to injuries striking seven different players. The Caps played Saturday’s game with just five healthy defensemen and Mike Green participating only on power plays.
“We’re used to that. The partners change, the lines change. But this group has been together for three or four years,” forward Brooks Laich said. “It’s nothing that shocks the system, it’s nothing that we can use as a crutch or an excuse. Injuries happen.”
The big news after Monday’s practice was that the Caps will be without goalie Semyon Varlamov (lower-body injury) through at least this week’s road trip to Carolina, Minnesota and Calgary. Varlamov has played just five periods this season, missing part of training camp and the first 11 days of the season with a groin injury. He relieved rookie Michal Neuvirth during last Tuesday’s game against Boston and then started Thursday against the Bruins. But Varlamov did not dress against the Thrashers and is back on injured reserve.
He’s not the only one struggling with health issues. Defenseman Tom Poti (lower-body injury) was a scratch on Saturday and didn’t practice Monday. He will travel on the road trip, but his status for those games is unknown. Rookie center Marcus Johansson (hip) also sat out Saturday. He was on the ice at practice, but is questionable for Wednesday’s game at Carolina. Forwards Boyd Gordon (undisclosed) and Matt Bradley (lower-body injury) both practiced. Gordon had not been on the ice since the previous Monday. Bradley still is on injured reserve. Defenseman John Carlson also missed practice, but both he and Green are expected to play against the Hurricanes.
“I hate teams that make excuses about it. It’s opportunities for guys that play five minutes to play 15 minutes and guys that play 15 minutes to play 22 minutes,” Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said. “Because quite frankly they all go home and [complain] that they don’t play enough. So now’s the chance to play”
