Matt Niskanen News

Niskanen (lower-body) will play on Thursday.

Niskanen left Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury, but he will be in the lineup tonight, despite missing a practice this week. Niskanen will play on the Capitals’ top power-play, but comes in with no goals on 38 shots and has nine assists in 21 games.

Matt Niskanen
Niskanen (lower-body) missed practice on Monday.

Niskanen left Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury and did not return and missing Monday’s practice suggests that he could miss some time. The Capitals don’t play until Thursday, so monitor Niskanen’s status as the week progresses.

Matt Niskanen
Niskanen (lower-body) will be a game-time decision on Wednesday.

Niskanen suffered a lower-body injury on Sunday vs. the Panthers. He missed Monday’s practice, skated briefly on Tuesday and participated in today’s morning skate, but is still considered a game-time decision. He said “I don’t know yet,” when asked if he would play, so monitor his status during pre-game warmups.

Matt Niskanen
Niskanen is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Niskanen played 22:03 and was a plus-1 with five shots in the Capitals win over the Panthers last night. He finished the game, but must have been sore after and is listed as day-to-day. Monitor his status leading up to Wednesday’s game in Toronto.

Matt Niskanen
The Capitals have signed Matt Niskanen to a seven-year deal worth $40.25 million.

Niskanen had a great year in Pittsburgh in 2013-14. Niskanen had 10 goals and 36 assists (46 points) with a plus-33 rating in 81 games. A huge season and a lack of defensemen depth in free agency leads to massive money for the 27-year-old. Niskanen will likely anchor the Capitals top power-play unit for the next number of seasons.

Matt Niskanen
Niskanen practiced this morning and will be a game-time decision tonight.

Like Letang, Niskanen will also be a game-time decision tonight. It is more likely that Letang plays than Niskanen but it is believed that both should be back tonight. Monitor his status before puck-drop.

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Matt Niskanen (ankle) on ice for #Penguins practice.

Niskanen's (ankle) original timetable for a return was 2-6 weeks and it has only been 2 weeks and he is already back on the ice. There has been no word on when he will return to the lineup but this is good news for the Penguins as it appears he will be back at the front-end of that timetable.

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Niskanen won't be playing tonight. Getting closer though. #Penguins

Niskanen hasn't played since January 27th and after today's game he will have missed the Penguins last 8 games. He had 1 G and 2 A in the first 5 games this season. He should be close to a return.

Matt Niskanen
The Penguins will be without defenseman Matt Niskanen on Tuesday when they play the New York Islanders at Consol Energy Center.

Niskanen likely isn't playing a vital role on your fantasy squad but for those in deeper leagues, Niskanen will be listed as day to day and is not expected to be out an extended period of time.

Matt Niskanen