Malenstyn Leaves Capitals' Tilt With Bruins With Injury After Late Hit From Frederic, Will Not Return

WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals are playing shorthanded once again, as Beck Malenstyn left Monday's tilt with the Boston Bruins with an injury.

The injury is an upper-body ailment and will hold him out for the remainder of the game, per the team.

Malenstyn was skating in the offensive zone and had passed the puck away when he was hit hard by Trent Frederic late on the play. He stayed down for a long moment and took some time to get up before heading to the bench and going slowly down the tunnel.

There was no penalty on the hit, which caught Malesntyn up high.

It marks the third key player lost to injury on a hit over this last stretch, as the team is also playing without Rasmus Sandin and Nick Jensen. Malenstyn played 8:44 minutes before leaving the game.

Losing Malenstyn is a big loss for the Capitals, as the 25-year-old rookie has played. crucial role on the fourth line and the penalty kill all season long. Through 80 games, he has six goals and 15 assists for 21 points, and he leads all Washington skaters in hits (237) while ranking first among Capitals forwards in blocks (92).

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The Capitals are playing in the first game of a critical back-to-back that determines their playoff fate.