Capitals' Green day-to-day with lower-body injury

Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, the team announced Wednesday, and he is questionable for the game Friday at the Detroit Red Wings.

"We'll see," Capitals coach Adam Oates said when asked about Green's status for Friday. "I obviously hope so. We'll evaluate him [Thursday]."

Green had an assist and played 23:02 Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and could have been injured when he was hit hard behind the Washington net by the Blue Jackets' Blake Comeau 8:06 into the third period. However, Oates said it could have happened on a "bump" he took earlier in the game.

Green has 11 points -- all assists -- and a minus-6 rating in 19 games. He also leads the team with an average ice time of 24:18 per game.

"One of the things we talked to him about is playing him too much, where maybe he is a little fatigued and he doesn't see a guy coming as fast as he should," Oates said. "It's one of the things we're trying to monitor. Spread the minutes out so we don't put that much pressure on him."