The Capitals are shorthanded on the blue line after some big hits led to injuries.

The Washington Capitals lost another defenseman to an injury on a controversial hit along the boards, as Vincent Iorio suffered an upper-body injury in Game 1 against the New York Rangers after a hit from behind by Alexis Lafreniere and did not return.

Iorio was skating out from behind the net with the puck when Lafreniere gave him a shove from behind, sending the 21-year-old blueliner hard into the boards. He went down in visible pain and favoring his shoulder and arm, and as teammates rushed to defend him, New York forced the turnover and scored to make it a 2-0 game.

There was no penalty called on the play.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u22uv7I7nc[/embed]

Head coach Spencer Carbery didn't have an update on Iorio, who skated just 1:50 in the 4-1 loss, saying that he will learn more when the team practices on Monday.

When asked about the hit itself, Carbery said, "it was close."

"It was borderline. Young player. I feel bad for him because he puts himself in a bad spot," Carbery told reporters with regard to Iorio. "Really needs to move the puck quicker there just to get it out of his hands, and then he hangs onto it and (Lafreniere) wallops him."

Washington is already shorthanded on the blue line, as second-pairing defensemen Nick Jensen and Rasmus Sandin have been unavailable due to upper-body injuries they also suffered on heavy — and controversial — hits along the boards.

Jensen and Sandin are making progress and expected to practice on Monday, and neither have been ruled out for Game 2 after missing the series opener, per Carbery.