Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau says rookie center Marcus Johansson is “week-to-week” after taking a shot off the foot early in the first period of Monday’s 3-2 overtime win over Ottawa.
The 20-year-old center hobbled to the bench at 7:05 of the first period, his second shift of the night lasting just 26 seconds. Johansson played through the pain with 11 shifts total – the last one, though, coming at 12:39 of the third period.
Boudreau said after practice on Monday that there are enough in-house replacements to get through Wednesday’s home game against the Islanders. The Caps then travel to Nashville on Saturday. Johansson is definitely out for that contest, too.
Forward Matt Bradley, who left Monday’s game with a lower-body injury, could return Saturday. Washington still has both Dave Steckel and Boyd Gordon to play center on the third and fourth lines. Plenty of center options are available at AHL Hershey, too, if Johansson’s injury lingers, including Keith Aucoin and Mathieu Perreault.
Bradley and defenseman Tom Poti were both listed as “day-to-day”. Neither is expected to play on Wednesday, however. Boudreau did admit Michal Neuvirth will make his fourth straight start in goal. Fellow goalie Semyon Varlamov practiced on Tuesday and is recovering from his strained groin. Sounds like he’s not far off.
Meanwhile, the Caps gave veteran back-up goalie Dany Sabourin the day off from practice. His daughter is ill and in the hospital and sleep hasn’t been much of a priority lately. He has not been sent to Hershey.
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