Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Michal Neuvirth isn’t likely to start or warm the bench Saturday

Michal Neuvirth

Washington Capitals goalkeeper Michal Neuvirth, of Czech Republic, makes a save during the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, in Washington. The Capitals won 4-1. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

AP

According to the Washington Post’s Katie Carrera, the Washington Capitals have called up goaltender Dany Sabourin to warm the bench on Saturday, which is a good indication of how far along Michal Neuvirth is in his recovery from a lower body injury. Neuvirth has missed four straight days of practice, although he was on the ice after the Capitals practice to take some shots.

Fortunately, Tomas Vokoun has led the Capitals to back-to-back overtime wins in Neuvirth’s absence and he’ll be in a good position to bring his record up to 3-0-0 against the lowly Ottawa Senators. Vokoun and Neuvirth entered the season in a fierce battle for the number one job with the Washington Capitals and Neuvirth’s injury has allowed Vokoun to start in a string of games.

If Neuvirth is able to return in the near future, then the damage to his standing with the Capitals will be minimal. Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau hasn’t seemed overly worried about Neuvirth’s health to this point, but the longer this drags on, the more opportunities Vokoun will have to set himself apart.