Mike Green made it known Sunday night he was leaving on a jet plane — and the Washington Capitals don’t know when he’ll be back again.
Everyone hopes it will be soon, as the All-Star defenseman has missed 14 games and will be out another one Tuesday with a strained right groin. But coach Dale Hunter confirmed Monday that Green was going to see a specialist.
Hunter called it a “good sign” and added that Green would be joining the Caps in Winnipeg as they begin a two-game road trip. The coach would not divulge where Green went. There is no timetable for his return.
Green, 26, hurt his groin late in the first period Nov. 11 at the New Jersey Devils.
“It’s a day-to-day thing, and not a three-week day-to-day thing — an actual day-to-day thing,” then-coach Bruce Boudreau said at the time.
It has now been a month since Green was involved in a Caps game. They’re 8-0-0 with him in the lineup and 7-12-1 without him.
“It’s still bothering him, and he’s not a hundred percent. You don’t want to push him because there’s no point if he can be out for longer,” defenseman Roman Hamrlik said. “Everybody is different. You can’t judge whether a player should play or not. He’s going to know when he’s ready. This is the kind of injury that can come back again and again.”
Defenseman Tom Poti has been out since January with nagging groin injuries.
• Stephen Whyno can be reached at swhyno@washingtontimes.com.
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