Capitals forward Beagle out for 'extended period'

WASHINGTON -- Washington Capitals center Jay Beagle will need surgery for an upper-body injury sustained in the second period of a 5-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres at Verizon Center on Wednesday.

"Jay Beagle will be out for an extended period of time," Capitals coach Barry Trotz said.

Trotz emphasized the severity of Beagle's injury but did not reveal any details other than that it was to his upper body and that he will be put on injured reserve. Beagle has six goals and 12 points in 35 games this season.

Beagle had a shift at 14:08 of the second period and was injured at some point during that time. He did not return for the third period.

Center Nicklas Backstrom left the game with an upper-body injury and did not play in the third period. The Capitals play at the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, and Trotz said Backstrom will travel and could play.

With Beagle out, the Capitals have the option of moving Marcus Johansson, Andre Burakovsky or Brooks Laich to center.

The Capitals also were without defenseman John Carlson, who missed his second consecutive game with a lower-body injury. He's expected to miss a few more, Trotz said, and will not travel to Raleigh, N.C.

"We'll probably call up someone from Hershey (of the American Hockey League)," Trotz said. "It's probably more precautionary than anything."