Capitals winger Tom Wilson is set to miss his third-straight playoff game on Monday night.
Wilson missed the team’s morning skate on Monday, a likely confirmation that the hard-hitting forward will be out once again with the lower-body injury that he sustained in Game 1.
Coach Peter Laviolette told reporters Monday that Wilson is still day-to-day.
Wilson scored the first goal of the series a few minutes into the Capitals’ Game 1 victory. But he sustained an injury later that period and hasn’t returned to the ice for a game or practice since.
Wilson’s presence has been missed for the Capitals, especially in the team’s 5-1 loss in Game 2, but other forwards like Marcus Johansson and Anthony Mantha have stepped up in his absence.
Wilson, in his age-27 campaign, had arguably his best season as a professional this year. In 78 games, Wilson set career highs with 24 goals and 28 assists while still dishing out 240 hits.
Brett Leason was called up from Hershey to fill in for Wilson in Game 2, but 21-year-old Connor McMichael saw 8 minutes, 35 seconds of ice time in Game 3. Leason was sent back down to Hershey, and McMichael appears slotted into the third line again for Game 4.
The Capitals can take a 3-1 series lead over the top-seeded Panthers at Capital One Arena on Monday night. Game 5 will be Wednesday night at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.