Their teammates had already left the ice after practice on Tuesday at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Under the watchful eye of assistant coach Dean Evason, injured Capitals defensemen Jeff Schultz and Shaone Morrisonn skated alone.
Team officials won’t disclose the exact nature of their injuries, though Morrisonn left last week’s win over Carolina after a crunching hit to his left shoulder. He is officially out with an upper-body injury. Schultz’s problem is still officially undisclosed.
It is unclear if either will be available for Friday’s Stanley Cup quarterfinal opener against the Philadelphia Flyers. But their absence would hurt a Caps’ blueline unit that will be tested over the next two weeks during what many expect to be a long, contentious series. As a precaution, defenseman Sami Lepisto was recalled from AHL affiliate Hershey on Tuesday.
“It’s aseven-game series so we have some time here,” said Morrisonn, who noted the five-day break before Game 1 vs. Philadelphia would help. “I wouldn’t put the team in a bad position. I need to be able to have a full-contact practice before I can make a decision on my situation. Just have to take it day-by-day.”
Schultz was an early casualty during Saturday’s Southeast Division-clinching win over Florida. He already wears a knee brace from an injury suffered Feb. 20 against the New York Islanders that caused him to miss two games.
Both players skated hard for several minutes Tuesday. Schultz played in 72 games during the regular season and averaged 18 minutes, 5 seconds of ice time per game. Morrisonn played in 76 games and averaged 20:16.
“If they’re here, they’re here and if they’re not, they’re not,” said Caps coach Bruce Boudreau. “But right now they didn’t practice with the team [Tuesday] and we have to read into that what it is.”
Lepisto, 23, was in the midst of his own playoff battle in Hershey, where the Bears are on the verge of clinching an AHL Eastern Conference berth. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Finn has now been recalled three separate times since Feb. 16 and played in seven games for Washington.
“I knew there could be a chance [for another call-up],” said Lepitso. “I’m happy to be here. ButI don’t know how long it will last. It just depends on how [Morrisonn and Schultz] are feeling.”
