Washington Capitals defenseman Vincent Desharnais is expected to miss four to six weeks after undergoing an appendectomy on Thursday, the team announced.
Desharnais has been a key contributor for Washington this season. He leads the Caps in plus/minus at plus-9 and is averaging over 19 minutes of ice time. He has partnered with Martin Fehervary as the team's second defensive pairing.
The 30-year-old is in his first season with the Capitals after signing a four-year, $16.8 million deal in the offseason. Now in his fifth NHL season, Desharnais has also played for the Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and, last year, the San Jose Sharks.
Washington currently holds a 5-4-0 record. The Capitals' next game is Saturday night at home against the Buffalo Sabres, which will be played without Desharnais in the lineup.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing