Capitals Notebook: Team Trying To Stay Positive, Hagelin, Snively Updates

ARLINGTON, V.A. — After leaving Capital One Arena angry after a frustrating 5-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday, the Washington Capitals trying to get back to work on the right foot.

For the most part, the team was in high spirits, until practice abruptly ended with Carl Hagelin taking a stick up high and exiting the ice in visible pain with a towel over his face. That was the last drill for Washington.

Head coach Peter Laviolette had no update on Hagelin. T.J. Oshie said the team doctors were working on No. 62.

“It looked very uncomfortable for him,” Oshie noted.

Meanwhile, there were a few more absences from the skate. Joe Snively was missing from practice as he deals with an upper-body injury. Laviolette said it’s a lingering injury and not a new ailment.

READ MORE ON WHN: Takeaways From The Capitals 5-3 Loss To Toronto

Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Vitek Vanecek took maintenance days and also missed the skate.

If Snively and Hagelin’s injuries are long-term, the team will be without an extra forward. Daniel Sprong, of course, is available to draw in, but the team will have to make a call-up. Laviolette had no update on whether or not that will be the case.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Capitals were trying to keep things positive. Oshie said that the leadership group has been trying to keep the energy up and lead by example with the team seeing frustration start to boil over.

“There’s obviously always a little frustration when you’re not winning, especially when you’re not playing well and you’re not winning. We got a great mixture of guys in our room that are able to elevate the room to come in on a day like when we’re probably still a little pissed off about last night,” Oshie pointed out. “We went out, and I mean, guys were working hard. Guys were making plays, laughing… we got good character in the room.”

Washington next plays on Thursday as the team hosts the Carolina Hurricanes for Pride Night.