Capitals Injury Update: Sandin Not Expected To Be Back Before End Of Regular Season

ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals are preparing to be without a key piece of the puzzle in the final three games of the season, as Rasmus Sandin is believed to be out for the rest of the run with an upper-body injury.

Head coach Spencer Carbery told reporters on Friday that he doesn't have a clear update on Sandin Sandin, who didn't take the ice for practice, but he doesn't think he will recover in time to return to the lineup before the regular season culminates on April 16.

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Sandin was injured in the first period of Sunday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators after taking a hard hit along the boards from Parker Kelly. He went down in visible discomfort and did not return, and he has not skated since.

Losing Sandin hurts as Washington enters three must-win games down this final stretch. The 24-year-old, who has played on the top-4 all season and has mainly stuck with Nick Jensen on the second pairing, has three goals and 20 assists through 68 games, along with a plus/minus of minus-13.

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With Sandin out, Washington has relied on Alex Alexeyev to take his place alongside Nick Jensen, while Trevor van Riemsdyk has switched to his off-side to work with rising defenseman Vincent Iorio.

Lucas Johansen is the extra defenseman in D.C. who is also available if needed. He is a left-shot.

The Capitals sit one point out of a playoff spot, and their final three games are all must-wins, starting with Saturday's meeting with the Tampa Bay Lightning.