Nic Dowd will miss sixth straight game with upper-body injury and Capitals still don't have 'great timeline' for his return

""We don't have a great timeline on Dowder, but not going to play tonight," Carbery said. "We'll see moving forward. He will travel." In 19 games this season, Dowd has recorded five points (1g, 4a). He has averaged 15:07 of ice time per game, with 2:42 of that coming on the penalty kill. He also ranks second on the team among regular centers in faceoff win percentage, winning 51 percent of his draws."

"With Dowd out of the lineup, Connor McMichael has played center between Brandon Duhaime and Ryan Leonard on the Capitals' third line. The injury has also given Sonny Milano an opportunity to dress regularly, as he's played in five straight games and excelled with four points (2g, 2a). The only lineup changes from the Capitals' win over the Winnipeg Jets on Thanksgiving Eve will be Logan Thompson taking the net from Charlie Lindgren and Trevor van Riemsdyk displacing Dylan McIlrath."

"The Maple Leafs are also going to be without a huge piece of their lineup, as head coach Craig Berube announced pregame that star forward William Nylander will miss out due to illness. Toronto just got Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, and Nicolas Roy back from injury in their last game, a 2-1 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Overall, this season, the Maple Leafs have struggled to a 10-10-3 record,"

Nic Dowd was placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury and will not play against the Maple Leafs, though he will travel with the team. Dowd has five points in 19 games, averaging 15:07 of ice time and 2:42 on the penalty kill, and he wins 51 percent of his faceoffs among regular centers. Connor McMichael has taken Dowd's spot at center on the third line, and Sonny Milano has dressed in five straight games, producing four points. Logan Thompson will start in net and Trevor van Riemsdyk replaces Dylan McIlrath in the lineup. William Nylander is out for Toronto due to illness, while Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, and Nicolas Roy recently returned from injury. The Maple Leafs hold a 10-10-3 record this season.

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