Caps’ Malenstyn undergoes finger surgery, out 6-8 weeks originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Capitals winger Beck Malenstyn will be sidelined for the next six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery to stabilize a fractured finger on his left hand that he suffered in Tuesday’s overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, the team announced Friday.
Malenstyn, 24, began the season with the Capitals’ AHL affiliate Hershey Bears but received the call to DC when winger Connor Brown went down with a torn ACL. Head coach Peter Laviolette inserted him onto the fourth line and he found success, recording two points with 15 hits and two blocks in five games alongside center Nic Dowd and forward Garnet Hathaway.
Unfortunately for Malenstyn, one of those blocks landed him on the shelf. He slid feet-first to block Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague from firing a shot on goal from the point and got up quickly enough to complete the play and clear the puck, but he then made his way to the bench and didn’t return.
The Capitals already placed Malenstyn as well as winger TJ Oshie and defenseman John Carlson on Injured Reserve on Wednesday, recalling Hershey skaters Sonny Milano, Garrett Pilon and Lucas Johansen to replace him.
Winger Joe Snively skated in Malenstyn’s place on the fourth line during Thursday’s loss to the Detroit Red Wings.