In the midst of a busy stretch of seven games in 12 days prior to the NHL All-Star break, the Capitals had a chance Wednesday to catch their breath and get used to life without center Michael Nylander.
The team’s assist leader was scheduled for surgery on his left shoulder Wednesday in Cleveland and will not return this season. That leaves a gaping hole in the middle of the Caps’ second line, but also a clear opportunity for some of the organization’s younger players.
Forward Tomas Fleischmann was a healthy scratch for Sunday’s loss to Philadelphia. But he was back in the lineup Tuesday against Eastern Conference-leading Ottawa and contributed two assists in 13 minutes, 41 seconds of ice time during a 4-2 win.
“It is an opportunity. There’s an open spot now on those [top] two lines,” said Fleischmann, the 23-year-old Czech Republic native who now has five goals and 10 assists this season. “But for me it doesn’t change anything at all. I still have to work my [butt] off to keep playing.”
Fleischmann plays right wing instead of center like Nylander. But the resulting lineup shifts should allow him to stay on the second line with left wing Alexander Semin. The Caps are also without forward Chris Clark (groin), who has missed 19 of the last 20 games and is doubtful tonight against Edmonton. Clark re-aggravated his injury playing on the second line Sunday.
Fleischmann averaged more than a point per game playing most of the last two seasons with the Hershey Bears, Washington’s AHL affiliate. Under Bruce Boudreau in Hershey — now also his coach with the Capitals — Fleischmann twice led the Bears in playoff points, including 32 during a run to the Calder Cup title in 2006.
Against Ottawa, Fleischmann set up a late insurance goal by himself. He jumped on a loose puck to keep it in the offensive zone, fought past two Senators defenders before unleashing a shot on goal and then beat another defender to the corner and flicked a pass to a crashing Semin.
“[Fleischmann] knows that I expect a lot of him and I think he expects a lot of himself,” Boudreau said. “I’ve always been a believer that he’s going to be a real good player in this league. And I still believe that. [Against Ottawa] I thought he played a great game. Now we’ve got to build on that great game.”
In a Flash
» Tomas Fleischmann is nicknamed “Flash” by his teammates.
» The 6-foot-1, 192-pound winger was acquired by the Caps in a 2004 trade that sent forward Robert Lang to Detroit. Also included was the first-round draft pick the Caps used to nab D Mike Green.
» Fleischmann totaled 52 goals and 62 assists over his last two seasons in Hershey. He also appeared in 43 NHL games during that stretch with the Caps.
