Injured defensemen Carlson, Orpik to join Capitals on road trip

By foxsports
Published

Washington Capitals defensemen John Carlson and Brooks Orpik will accompany the team on its three-game road trip, coach Barry Trotz told reporters on Monday.

Carlson skated under the watch of a trainer during Monday morning's practice after missing four games with a lower-body injury. Trotz told reporters that the 25-year-old Carlson is very doubtful to play in Tuesday's tilt versus the host Boston Bruins while Orpik won't compete during the trek.

Via CSN MidAtlantic.com:

"He's making the trip so I anticipate him playing sometime after (Tuesday). ... Trainers are excellent at coming up with things to fit right, so they were trying some things today."

Carlson, who is more likely to return as soon as Thursday's contest versus the Metropolitan Division-rival New York Islanders, was injured during Washington's 3-1 win over Montreal on Dec. 26. Carlson has collected six goals and 21 assists in 34 games this season for the first-place Capitals (28-7-3).

Orpik, who is nursing a lower-body injury, hasn't played since Nov. 10. The 35-year-old has one goal and two assists in 14 games this season.

In lieu of the injuries, defenseman Matt Niskanen has seen a significant uptick in playing time. He logged a season-high 32 minutes in Saturday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.