Nicklas Backstrom will not play for the Washington Capitals in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the New York Islanders at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Friday (8 pm ET; NBCSN, FX-CA, TVAS, NBCSWA, MSG, MSG +).
Todd Reirden, head coach of capital, said the 32-year-old center is in the NHL concussion protocol. Backstrom was injured on a hit from Islanders ahead Anders Lee 2:33 in the first period of New York’s 4-2 victory in Game 1 in Toronto, the hometown for the Eastern Conference on Wednesday. Lee suffered an interference in the game.
Backstrom missed a shift over the rest of the period, playing seven shifts for 7:21 of the ice age and getting one shot on goal but did not return after the first intermission.
Backstrom finished third at the Capitals with 54 points (12 goals, 42 assists) in 61 games during the regular season. He had one assist in Washington’s three games in the round robin portion of the Stanley Cup qualifier.
“Obviously, Nick is a great leader for us,” Reirden said. “His body of work as a player speaks for itself. But that’s the next man up. Who will take advantage of this opportunity? That’s playoff hockey. Winning hockey in the regular season is having guys who benefit in a deep position of it. “
Third Center Lars Eller will go up to replace Backstrom on the second line. Eller dropped out of Game 1 after returning to Washington after the birth of his son Alexander on Aug. 4. And four days of career in his hotel room in Toronto.
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