TORONTO—Matt Niskanen suffered a lower-body injury in Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the Maple Leafs, missing the game's final 19 minutes.
Coach Barry Trotz did not provide an update after the game other than to say that the big-minute defenseman will be reevaluated Sunday. The nature and severity of the injury was not known.
It’s believed Niskanen suffered the injury at the end of the second period and attempted to start the third period. But after one shift, he was removed him from the game.
Niskanen ranks high among the players the Capitals cannot afford to lose. He’s second on the team average in ice time per game (22:46) and plays significant minutes on the power play and penalty kill. He's also the blue line’s leading scorer with nine points.
Niskanen has not missed a game since signing with the Capitals prior to the 2014-15 season, suiting up for 185 consecutive contests.
The Capitals don’t play again until hosting the Islanders on Thursday night.
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