The Washington Capitals planned to play Lars Eller in Wednesday’s preseason game, but the center has an upper-body injury and was scratched from the lineup.
Eller is considered day-to-day, so it’s unlikely the injury will cause him to miss any time in the regular season, which begins Oct. 2.
“It’s preseason, so we’ll have him play hopefully next game and do the right thing,” coach Todd Reirden said. “We’re not going to play a player who’s not 100% in a preseason game.”
When the regular season begins, Eller is the likely candidate to fill in for Evgeny Kuznetsov on the second line when Kuznetsov serves a three-game suspension for “inappropriate conduct” related to a positive cocaine test.
Eller will be replaced in Wednesday’s lineup with Connor McMichael, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2019. McMichael made his NHL preseason debut Monday and tallied an assist. The Capitals host the St. Louis Blues Wednesday.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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