The Washington Capitals face a significant blow as defenseman Martin Fehervary will miss the entire postseason due to a right knee injury sustained during a game against the New York Islanders on April 15. Following surgery to repair the injury, the Capitals have confirmed that Fehervary will be sidelined for the playoffs. This season, the 24-year-old defenseman contributed with five goals and 25 points over 81 regular-season games, showcasing his importance on the blue line with a +18 rating and solid metrics in Corsi and expected goals.

To fill the gap, Alexander Alexeyev stepped up in the Capitals’ overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens in the first playoff game. The Capitals, who ranked tied for eighth with a 2.79 goals-against average during the regular season, now look to adapt their defensive strategy as they continue their playoff push without one of their key contributors. The next game is scheduled for Wednesday at Capital One Arena.