Capitals center Sergei Fedorov and defenseman Shaone Morrisonn will both miss tonight’s road game against the Carolina Hurricanes, coach Bruce Boudreau said Tuesday.
Practice was canceled yesterday morning after a 4-2 win over Tampa Bay on Monday. Morrisonn (groin) and Fedorov (lower-body injury) each skated on his own at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, but neither one will make the trip to Raleigh for tonight’s 7 o’clock start. Both players were originally hurt during the Caps’ 3-2 win over Carolina last Thursday at Verizon Center.
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Forward Viktor Kozlov, who has been battling a sore knee for several weeks, will travel with the team and could play, Boudreau said. Kozlov sat out the win over Tampa Bay. Boudreau declined to say who would be in goal for Washington, although back-up Brent Johnson has started four games in a row and is 3-0-1 during that stretch. Boudreau did say it was likely Jose Theodore would be back in net sometime this week. The Caps face the New Jersey Devils in a home-and-away matchup on Friday and Saturday.
If Kozlov does play against the Hurricanes that will send someone back to the bench. Forward Eric Fehr did his best to make sure he remains on the ice against Carolina. Playing for just the fifth time this season, the 23-year-old scored his first goal of the year during Monday’s game vs. the Lightning — a rocket from the left wing — and took four shots, playing with a confidence too often missing when he has cracked the lineup early this season.
“Eric played great. He played like he’s capable of playing,” Boudreau said. “I’ve been in that situation before where you’re trying to make the most of your ice time because it might not come again. This is a guy who scored more than 50 goals one year in juniors. He can do it if he just plays his game.”
The Caps (8-4-2) and Hurricanes (8-5-2) are tied for first place in the Southeast Division with 18 points. Carolina is wrapping up a three-game homestand after splitting the first two contests. One Caps player always happy to see the Hurricanes is right wing Alexander Semin.
Second in the NHL with 11 goals entering play last night, Semin has 15 goals and eight assists in 20 career games against Carolina. He is also the team’s leader in plus-minus rating at +13. Left wing Ray Whitney has 13 points to lead the Hurricanes, who have six different players with at least four goals.
Up next
Capitals at Hurricanes
When » Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Where » RBC Center, Raleigh, NC
TV/Radio » CSN (HD)/1500 AM/XM 206
