Capitals place D Niskanen on long-term IR

Oct 14, 2017 - 6:23 PM The Washington Capitals placed defenseman Matt Niskanen on long-term injured reserve due to an upper-body injury, the team announced Saturday.

Niskanen, 30, appeared to injure his left hand in the second period of Friday night's 5-2 win against the New Jersey Devils. The team says Niskanen is week-to-week.

On long-term injured reserve, Niskanen must miss at least the next 10 games and 24 days. The earliest he will be eligible to return to the lineup is Nov. 7 against Buffalo

Niskanen has one assist and eight penalty minutes in five games this season, averaging 21:09 in time on ice.

With Niskanen out, the Capitals recalled defenseman Madison Bowey from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League.

The 22-year-old Bowey could make his NHL debut on Saturday night when the Capitals visit the Philadelphia Flyers.

Bowey made his AHL season debut on Oct. 7 against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Last season, he recorded 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 43 games with Hershey. In 105 career AHL games, Bowey owns 43 points (seven goals, 36 assists). The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native was selected by the Capitals in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2013 draft.