Capitals Injury Update: Dowd Will Be ‘Out For A Bit’

WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals will be without a key piece of the lineup on Tuesday, as Nic Dowd will not suit up against the Minnesota Wild due to a lower-body injury he suffered a night before on Long Island. Head coach Peter Laviolette said he is going to be “out for a little bit.”

Dowd was hurt in the opening minutes of Monday's 4-3 comeback overtime win over the New York Islanders after taking a hard hit along the boards from Cal Clutterbuck. He went down in visible discomfort and crawled to the bench before going down the tunnel. During a media timeout, he came out for a quick twirl, but after one circle, he went straight back to the locker room with athletic trainers and did not return.

It is a major blow for the Capitals, who just got Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson back from injury and had 14 healthy forwards available. Dowd is a key center and integral part of the mix, as he powers the fourth line with Garnet Hathaway, generates pressure, wins face-offs, battles hard in his own zone and logs significant time on the penalty kill.

Through 44 games this season, Dowd has 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points. He is one goal away from tying his career-high in goals set two year back, and he is also on pace for his first career 30-point season.

With Dowd out of the mix, Lars Eller, who was a healthy scratch on Monday as head coach Peter Laviolette continues to find his optimal lineup and balance assets, will draw back in for Washington. Through 44 games this season, Eller has eight goals and seven assists and leads all Capitals skaters in face-off wins and FO%, and is also among the team's shorthanded ice time leaders.