The Washington Capitals can’t avoid injury.
On Saturday evening, before the warm-ups, the Capitals unexpectedly announced that the team would be without Nick Dowd and: Hunter Shepard against the Toronto Maple Leafs. “Athletic” football player Tarik El-Bashir announced this on Twitter.
Dowd has a lower-body injury while Shepard is nursing an upper-body issue.
Dowd (lower body) and Shepard (upper body) are out tonight against TOR. Both day to day. #Caps:
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) December 17, 2022
Shepard’s injury explains the Capitals’ emergency call-up of Zach Fucale from Hershey.
RMNB reader Katie reported that Shepard took off his mask during the morning skate and immediately left the ice.
Did you watch Hunter Shepard put on his mask at practice today? Immediately came off the ice looking shocked. Guessing he is.
— Katie (@That_WriterGirl) December 17, 2022
As for Dowd, the fourth-line center has been particularly good in the last seven games, scoring two goals in the last seven. Both were GWG. Dowd has played in all 32 games for the Capitals this season. He was one of only 10 players to do so.
According to the Capitals’ Mike Vogel, Dowd came off the ice early for the morning skate. He will be replaced by Nicolas Aube-Kubel.
#Caps: are on the ice to warm up and I don’t see Nick Dowd there. After the skate this morning, he came out much earlier than usual. Nikolas Ob-Kubel is on the ice for warmups and could be the 3rd straight game in the series. He began the season with the Leafs, playing in six games.
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) December 17, 2022
The Capitals will face Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov for the first time in DC. Puck drop is shortly after 7 p.m.
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