Capitals’ Nic Dowd leaves game against the Devils with an upper-body injury
Washington Capitals goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) and right wing Nic Dowd (26) stand in the goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Capitals center Nic Dowd left the team’s game against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night with an upper-body injury.
Dowd never returned for the second period after skating seven shifts for 6:20 in the first. The Capitals quickly ruled him out from returning.
Asked for an update after his team’s 6-2 win, coach Spencer Carbery said only that Dowd would be reevaluated Wednesday. The Capitals leave for a two-game road trip after practice.
A faceoff specialist and penalty killer with some offensive ability who is signed through next season at the bargain basement salary cap hit of $1.3 million, Dowd is considered one of the most attractive players available ahead of the March 8 NHL trade deadline.
It was not immediately clear how serious Dowd’s injury was or if the 33-year-old would miss any time. This season, Dowd has 16 points on eight goals and eight assists and is a veteran of 506 regular-season and playoff games.
“Dowder’s a huge defensive piece on this team, and they’re hard shoes to fill,” said Connor McMichael, who scored twice and assumed some of Dowd’s ice time against the Devils. “But I thought our group did a collective job to step in for him, and we’re happy to get the win.”
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