Carbery: Thompson to miss at least 2 games with injury

Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery provided an update on injured goaltender Logan Thompson on Friday.

"Logan will miss a little bit of time," the bench boss said. "I won't call him day-to-day - he's definitely gonna miss a couple games, and then we'll see where it goes from there."

Thompson suffered an upper-body injury during Washington's 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. It isn't clear how he got hurt. He allowed three goals on 12 shots in the first period. Running mate Charlie Lindgren replaced him to start the second frame.

The Capitals listed Thompson as doubtful to return to the contest.

Carbery said Thompson's absence will serve as a "great opportunity" for Lindgren.

"He can now take the reins for a bit. ... A good chance for him to string some starts together and play real well," he continued. "I've liked his game of late. I know Logan has got the majority of the starts, but (Lindgren) in his games - even though a couple of them haven't gone our way as a team, I think he's looked really, really sharp."

The club recalled goaltender Hunter Shepard from the AHL on Friday.

There are seven games remaining on Washington's regular-season schedule, starting with a tilt against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday and a clash with the New York Islanders on Sunday.

The Capitals were the first team to clinch a playoff spot in March, and they currently lead the Eastern Conference with a 48-18-9 record.

Thompson has been key to Washington's success, recording 31 wins and just six regulation losses in 42 starts to go along with a 2.49 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. He also ranks 13th among all goalies in goals saved above average (8.67) and seventh in goals saved above expected (24.9), according to Evolving-Hockey.

However, the 28-year-old has hit a rough patch. He owns an .877 clip in 15 outings since the beginning of February and hasn't picked up a win in his last three starts with a .780 save percentage and a 5.58 GAA over that span.

The Capitals have dropped four of their last five games.