{"id":17730,"date":"2017-10-14T16:40:20","date_gmt":"2017-10-14T20:40:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=17730"},"modified":"2017-10-14T16:40:20","modified_gmt":"2017-10-14T20:40:20","slug":"capitals-matt-niskanen-ltir","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/10\/14\/capitals-matt-niskanen-ltir\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington Capitals Place Matt Niskanen On LTIR"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Washington Capitals<\/a>\u00a0placed defensemen Matt Niskanen<\/strong><\/a> on long-term injured reserve Saturday morning with an upper-body injury. Washington would also clear up cap and roster space in order to recall Madison Bowey<\/strong> from Hershey in the American Hockey League.<\/p>\n

Bowey will make his NHL debut when the Caps take on the Philadelphia Flyers<\/a> (7 p.m. EST | NBCSP, NBCSWA, NHL.TV). He will also be paired up with Christian Djoos<\/strong><\/a>, who also made his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a>. This will be a partnership rekindled as they were linemates in Hershey last season.<\/p>\n

As a member of the top blue line pair for Washington, Niskanen’s absence\u00a0will certainly hurt the team for the next few weeks. The earliest he can return is their November 7th match-up against the Buffalo Sabres<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Washington Capitals Place Matt Niskanen On Long-Term Injured Reserve<\/h1>\n

During the Caps game on Friday against the New Jersey Devils<\/a>, Niskanen headed into the locker room during the second period and did not return. He was ruled out of the third period and was seen with a wrap on his hand after the game. The Capitals have listed him as week-to-week.<\/p>\n

Averaging 23:22 of ice time through the first four games, the 30-year-old stable defensemen has recorded one assist in Washington’s first five games. He played just a little over 12 minutes against the Devils before leaving with injury. Washington would win the game 5-2.<\/p>\n

Career Stats<\/h2>\n

Niskanen got his start in the NHL when he was drafted 28th overall in the first round of the 2005 NHL Draft by the Dallas Stars<\/a>.<\/p>\n

During his time in Dallas, the Virginia, Minnesota native racked up 16 goals and 66 assists from 2007-2011. Niskanen was then shipped away to the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a>. There he recorded 19 goals and 66 assists from 2011-2014. After his tenure in Pittsburgh, he was signed by the Washington Capitals as an unrestricted free agent.<\/p>\n

Niskanen recorded 14 goals before this season started with the Caps, all while tallying up 89 assists, giving a grand total of 41 goals and 229 assists for 270 career NHL points.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>