The Washington Capitals are gearing up for a thrilling Game 1 showdown vs. the Montreal Canadiens tonight, but injuries continue to bog down the team. As the team finished up their optional morning skate, one player noticeably absent from the mix was defenceman Martin Fehervary.
According to sources, defenceman Martin Fehérváry missed morning practice and appears to be dealing with an injury stemming from an awkward collision during the April 15th game against the New York Islanders.
Although Martin Fehérváry managed to finish that game, he was sidelined for the regular season finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins and has since been receiving ongoing medical attention.
As per those same sources, Martin Fehervary's absence is a clear indicator that he will not be available for tonight's game against the Habs. A devastating blow to the Caps' back-end, to say the least.
According to RMNB, Alex Alexeyev has filled in for Fehervary at the last few practices, skating on the Capitals' third pairing with Trevor van Riemsdyk. Alexeyev played in three of the last four games of the season after only playing in five games prior.
Fehervary played in all 81 games of the season until missing the final game of the regular season against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 25-year-old Slovakian defender posted career highs in points (25) and assists (20) this season, skating 19:00 of ice time per game.
In response, the team has re-called defenceman Ethan Bear from the Hershey Bears. While this move might be precautionary, don't be surprised if Bear slots into the lineup for Game 1 as Martin Fehevary's prognosis looks increasingly grim.
Hopefully, Martin Fehervary makes a swift recovery as the Capitals will be needing him against the Habs tenacious offence.