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Sammi’s Daily: Dowd & Kuemper Update, Ovechkin Hit On Pageau Still Stirring Pot

The Washington Capitals got a huge comeback win over the New York Islanders, but saw Nic Dowd go down with injury. Plus updates on Darcy Kuemper, Alex Ovechkin’s hit on Jean-Gabriel Pageau and more in the daily.

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WASHINGTON — After one of their best — and to start, worst — games of the season in the form of a critical 4-3 comeback win over the New York Islanders in overtime, the Washington Capitals are right back in action on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild and could be shorthanded.

Nic Dowd went down with a lower-body injury on Monday in the opening minutes of the game and did not return, leaving Washington shorthanded just as the team started to balance 14 healthy forwards.

In other league headlines, the Vancouver Canucks heard from Jim Rutherford and more on the internal investigation regarding Tanner Pearson, while trade talk continues to brew.

Here are the latest news and notes from D.C. and across the NHL:

Washington Capitals Links

– Nic Dowd suffered a lower-body injury in the opening minutes against the Islanders following a heavy hit from Cal Clutterbuck. Here's the latest on No.26. (WHN)

– Alex Ovechkin proved to be the difference-maker against New York, as his huge hit on Jean-Gabriel Pageau sparked a rally from down 3-0 and led to a wild 4-3 OT win. (WHN)

– Lane Lambert and the Islanders saw the hit as a dangerous play that should have been a penalty, and they shared their distaste for what happened after the game. (WHN)

– Darcy Kuemper was shaken up in Monday's victory after taking a shin pad to the head in the third, and he gave an update postgame on how he's feeling. (WHN)

Tom Wilson got his first goal of the year following his return from ACL surgery — and it came off a nice feed from no other than Nicklas Backstrom. (WHN)

– Lars Eller was a healthy scratch as Dylan Strome drew back in, and Peter Laviolette gave a simple explanation. (WHN)

NHL Links

– Canucks president Jim Rutherford had some… interesting things to say in a press conference regarding the investigation on Pearson and his numerous procedures, plus more on the team's place in the standings and head coach Bruce Boudreau. (Sportsnet)

– More on what New York players had to say about Ovechkin's hit on Pageau. (NYIHN)

– Vegas Golden Knights netminder Robin Lehner filed for bankruptcy, citing over $50 million in debt and relating to an exotic snake farm. (VHN).

– Pittsburgh Penguisn captain Sidney Crosby wants an end to the shootout and is all in for extended overtime. (PHN)

– More on waivers priority and which teams are in good standing (the Montreal Cnaadiens are one of them). (MHN)

Sammi's Top Shelf Takes

– I thought the Ovechkin hit was a clean hockey hit. He's 6-3, 238, Pageau is 5-11, 185. Intent was shoulder to shoulder, no negative intent to injure and No. 8 was going for a big hit to spark his team and maintain possession. Didn't charge or leave his feet to initiate the contact.

– The Ovechkin-Johansson-Hathaway line was a solid combination back on Monday in New York. They had a lot of chances and made great pushes on the forecheck, and I've also always been a fan of Johansson at center. Should give Laviolette and the team reassurance that they do have another center in Johansson in the mix, though Eller is likely to return if Dowd can't go against Minnesota.

– It's Pride Night at home against the Wild. Players will be using sticks featuring "Pride Tape" in warmups, so keep an eye out for that.

– Wilson has nothing but good things to say about Backstrom, who was his rehabilitation buddy but also a longtime mentor for No. 43. Postgame, Wilson said that it's a "privilege" to play alongside No. 19.

– Also, another plug of our Tom Wilson 1-on-1, as he opened up about his injury, surgery, grueling rehab, return and aspirations to get back to the player he was last year.