Capitals Injury Updates: Alexeyev Activated; Oshie To Be Re-Evaluated

While the Washington Capitals make a quick stop in Ottawa for a Thursday tilt with the Senators, they got some more updates on the injury front.

Defenseman Alex Alexeyev has been activated from the injured reserve and appears to be cleared for action. The 23-year-old suffered an upper-body injury on Dec. 9 against the Seattle Kraken when he took an elbow to the head from Jamie Oleksiak. He did not skate for some time and returned recently in a blue non-contact jersey. He upgraded to contact back on Wednesday.

He is a healthy scratch in Ottawa, and Matt Irwin remains in the lineup playing on the third pairing with Trevor van Riemsdyk. This also explains the Lucas Johansen assignment to Hershey back on Tuesday night before the holiday roster freeze, as Alexeyev can play the roll of the seventh defenseman.

On the T.J. Oshie front, the 35-year-old is out against the Senators and will not play against the Winnipeg Jets at home, either. He has not played since going down with what the team is calling an "upper-body injury" in the second period of Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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Oshie was backchecking and pulled up in visible discomfort, and after going back to the bench and standing for a moment, he used the boards to make his way down to the tunnel. He appeared to be in a lot of pain.

 Head coach Peter Laviolette didn't remain committed to the day-to-day status and said that Oshie will be re-evaluated after the holiday break.

"The break is that extended time and then when he comes back, we'll assess and see where he's at," Laviolette said. "Instead of leaving it day-to-day for you, it'll be close to a week, I'm guessing, by the time we're back and then we'll see where it's at."