Caps defenseman John Erskine missed Monday’s game against Phoenix after suffering a “bump” to the left shoulder during a Sunday afternoon practice. I saw it. Happened right in front of the media room window here at Kettler and it was far from a mere “bump” Erskine came flying around the net chasing after a puck and forward Nicklas Backstrom with fellow defenseman Dmitry Orlov alongside. Someone’s stick – likely Backstrom’s, though Erskine didn’t want throw anybody under the bus – got caught in his skates and he slammed to the ice. All of his weight landed on his left shoulder – a scary proposition for someone who underwent surgery on that shoulder in May. Erskine was limited in training camp and only returned to game-action on Nov. 1. He left that practice immediately for treatment and did not play against the Coyotes.
Washington’s medical staff wanted to make sure that Erskine’s shoulder didn’t slip out of place. Once those concerns were allayed it is now a matter of strengthening the shoulder again. Erskine hopes to play before the Buffalo game on Saturday. The Caps play Winnipeg at home on Wednesday and the New York Rangers at home on Friday afternoon. But coach Bruce Boudreau said there was “a possibility” that Erskine could play against the Jets or the Rangers and that this latest issue is not a long-term injury.
Recommended Stories
“Any time there’s surgery you have concerns,” Boudreau said. “But John’s a very strong man and very tough. He battles through an awful lot of things. I assume this is just another one of those things. I’ve never had it so it’s hard for me to answer.”
Erskine has played in eight games – missing just the Nov. 12 game against New Jersey – and even had a fight last Wednesday in the Winnipeg game with Chris Thorburn.
“I kind of thought about that in the back in my mind,” Erskine said when asked if his first test of the shoulder in a fight concerned him. “But I think it held up pretty good.”
Follow me on Twitter @bmcnally14
