TORONTO — Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner remains out with an upper body injury and will not play in Game 6 on Sunday night.
Alzner is day-to-day, according to the club, and coach Barry Trotz said that Alzner is not in any type of protocol but still is not ready to play.
“No, no protocols, he’s just out tonight and getting better,” Trotz said. “As you see he’s been out with us but he’s not in tonight, going with the same lineup.”
On Saturday, Trotz said he wasn’t sure if Alzner would be ready and said that, if he was, he would consider going with seven defensemen for the potential series-ending game.
Alzner has not played since Game 2, but skated for the first time since last Wednesday when he got on the ice after practice with the rest of the scratches. Alzner has since returned to practice.
Nate Schmidt, who had a would-be goal called back due to goalie interference in Game 4, remains in the lineup in Alzner’s place. That Trotz would even consider going to seven defensemen speaks to Schmidt’s success filling in in this series, where his skating has been an asset against the speedy Maple Leafs.
• Nora Princiotti can be reached at nprinciotti@washingtontimes.com.
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