The cap-strapped Capitals had to call up four players on Wednesday. They placed Carl Hagelin on long term injured reserve and Nic Dowd on injured reserve. Nicklas Backstrom also missed last night’s game with an upper-body injury and fourth liner Garnet Hathaway was suspended for three games for spitting on Erik Gudbranson in an altercation on Monday.
There hasn’t been any indication that Backstrom would be out long-term, so the news is surprising that he would miss a game. He has only missed nine games since the lockout shortened 2012-2013 season and is a huge impact player with the Caps, both at even strength and on the power play.