The Capitals are dealing with another injury on the forward lines.
Just as things were looking up health-wise, the Washington Capitals suffered another setback on the injury front, as Sonny Milano is headed to the injured reserve.
Milano participated in Tuesday and Wednesday's practices, but it is unclear if something was ailing him or if something happened on or off the ice. Per IR rules, he will miss at least a week of action with what the team is calling an upper-body injury.
The 27-year-old recently ended a lengthy point drought with a goal on Saturday against the New York Rangers, which came following a healthy scratch on Dec. 7 against the Dallas Stars.
With Milano on IR, the Capitals have recalled Joe Snively from the AHL's Hershey Bears to help fill in upfront. He and Matthew Phillips are both capable of filling in for Milano, who has been on the third line with Evgeny Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie.
In 25 games with Hershey this season, Snively has seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points.
Milano joins two other injured Capitals forwards, as Max Pacioretty (Achilles) and Nicklas Backstrom (hip) remain on the LTIR.
Pacioretty, however, is making strides forward and has officially joined the team for practice. He is travelling with Washington on this road trip, but he is still two to three weeks away from his return to the lineup and is expected to suit up after the holiday break.
Backstrom, meanwhile, remains on indefinite leave from Washington after deciding to step away from hockey for the time being due to his hip not responding the way he hoped following hip resurfacing surgery in June 2022.
Washington faces the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday to open a three-game road swing. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. ET at Wells Fargo Center.