The Capitals are 7-0 since acquiring Jason Arnott from the Devils at the trade deadline. Now they’ll have to see how they do without him.
Arnott will not play Tuesday night in Montreal and is listed as “week-to-week” with an undisclosed injury that has kept him from joining the team on its road trip. He’ll miss at least the following two games - at Detroit and at New Jersey, Caps coach Bruce Boudreau told reporters in Montreal.
Since joining the Caps, Arnott has two goals and three assists and has been credited with helping young winger Alexander Semin’s game.
“He’s solidified that line so much -– just his presence on the ice,” teammate Mike Knuble said. “His presence has been huge for us. He’s a second center and he’s defensively just another big body to counteract teams’ one-two punches.”
Semin has three goals and three assists in those seven games alongside Arnott, who knew exactly what he was bringing to Washington.
“I knew that they had a young team and they needed a little more leadership, a few more older guys in the dressing room,” Arnott said Saturday. “The older guys are basically just wanting to come in there and help [younger guys] learn and bring them along.”
Arnott’s injury was first reported by the Caps’ official website.
Nicklas Backstrom has been out with a fractured left thumb, though his cast was off following the Caps’ game against the Blackhawks. According to the team’s site, he is on the road trip and at least a candidate to play at the Canadiens. If he can’t go, Jay Beagle or D.J. King would slide into the lineup.
Backstrom is a game-time decision to play Tuesday night at Bell Centre, Boudreau told reporters.
• Stephen Whyno can be reached at swhyno@washingtontimes.com.
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