Niskanen, Orpik, Oshie miss Capitals' game vs. Oilers

WASHINGTON - Forward T.J. Oshie and defensemen Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik missed the Washington Capitals' game against the Edmonton Oilers Friday night because of injuries.

Coach Barry Trotz called Niskanen and Orpik questionable with lower-body injuries. Trotz also alluded to a forward being banged up, with that being Oshie missing his 10th game of the season.

Injuries to four regulars, including forward Andre Burakovsky (hand), made this Washington's most patchwork lineup of the year. The Capitals have the fewest man games lost in the NHL now with 27 and hadn't played without more than two regulars until Friday.

The Capitals recalled defenseman Aaron Ness and forward Riley Barber from Hershey of the AHL on Thursday. Oshie's absence paved the way for Barber, a 2012 sixth-round pick, to make his NHL debut.