Not the way for Hershey to begin a three-game trip to New England, and not the news Washington needed in the middle of its five-game road swing. The Capitals announced this Friday morning that Quintin Laing suffered a torn spleen last night during the game in Tampa, and Mike Green left the game late in the third period as well. I would imagine someone is going to have to be summoned from here to take the place of Laing at least for now, and we now know according to the Washington Post that Laing's season is over. So he won't be back in a Bears uniform this season either. Just crushing news to hear about Laing, but it's also a big hit to the penalty kill in the long run. Not as if things were going according to plan on the PK this season anyway, ranked 29th out of 29.
I'll have more about tonight's game with the Devs in a while, but here are the excepts from Capitals Insider and the Washington Post.
Posted at 10:17 AM ET, 03/20/2009
Mike Green Update
I just spoke with defenseman Mike Green, who was injured in the final minutes of last night's game when he was pulled down by rookie Steven Stamkos. Green did not practice today, but said he hopes to take the morning skate tomorrow. At that time, he will decide whether he can face the 'Canes at RBC Center.
He seemed to be moving okay. But he definitely is not "fine" as both he and Coach Bruce Boudreau said after the Caps' 5-2 win. If had to speculate, I would guess that he's got an abdominal or oblique strain.
The team has not provided an official update on his status.
Posted by Tarik El-Bashir
Posted at 10:10 AM ET, 03/20/2009
Laing Hospitalized With Torn Spleen
Quintin Laing suffered a torn spleen last night in his first game with the Caps this season and is out for the season. It's unclear how exactly he suffered the injury, but I can tell you he did not know he was hurt (or at least to what extent) around 10:15 when I interviewed him in the dressing room at St. Pete Times Forum.
Posted by Tarik El-Bashir
