Capitals’ Nicklas Backstrom to miss Rangers game with upper-body injury

Garnet Hathaway spits on Erik Gudbranson during a brawl that ensues after Brendan Leipsic's thunderous hit on Derek Grant. Chandler Stephenson also scores on the play.

Sportsnet Staff November 20, 2019, 11:06 AM

Washington Capitals centre Nicklas Backstrom will miss Wednesday game against the New York Rangers with an upper-body injury.

Additionally, the team has placed Nic Dowd (upper body) and Carl Hagelin (upper body) on injured reserve. The team is also awaiting the fate of Garnet Hathaway, who has a hearing Wednesday morning for a spitting incident in Monday’s win over the Ducks.

#Caps Nicklas Backstrom (upper body), Nic Dowd (upper body) and Carl Hagelin (upper body) will not play tonight vs NYR and are listed as day to day. Caps place Hagelin on LTIR (eligible to be activated Dec. 2) and Nic Dowd on IR (eligible to be activated Nov. 21)

— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) November 20, 2019

Head coach Todd Reirden told reporters that Backstrom is day-to-day with his injury and that the team found out about it following Monday’s game. Backstrom skated in over 14 minutes and collected one assist against the Ducks.

Dowd hasn’t played since an being injured in an Oct. 29 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hagelin hasn’t played since Nov. 7 against the Florida Panthers.

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