Barber, 23, has recorded 11 points (7g, 4a) in 18 games with the Bears this season. The 6'0", 193-pound forward missed 35 games this season with an upper-body injury and has scored three goals in five games since returning to the lineup. Last season, Barber registered 55 points (26g, 29a) in 74 games with Hershey and ranked second among AHL rookies in goals and tied for fourth in points. In addition, he ranked second on the team in goals, points and shots (163) and ranked third in assists. The Pittsburgh native was named the Bears' 2015-16 Rookie of the Year. He has earned 66 points (33g, 33a) in 92 career AHL games with Hershey. Barber played at Miami University (Ohio) for three seasons from 2012-15 and earned 123 points (54g, 69a) in 116 games. He was drafted by the Capitals in the sixth round, 167th overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft.
Ness, 26, registered two assists in eight games with the Capitals last season. The Roseau, Minn., native made his Washington debut on Jan. 2, 2016 at Columbus and earned his first Capitals point with an assist on Jan. 5, 2016 at Boston. Ness was drafted by the Islanders in the second round, 40th overall, in the 2008 NHL Draft and has recorded five points (1g, 4a) in 37 career NHL games with the NY Islanders and Washington.
Ness has registered 16 points (5g, 11a) in 41 games with Hershey (AHL) this season and ranks second among Bears defensemen in points and tied for second in goals and assists. Last season, Ness ranked second among Bears defensemen in points (27) and assists (21), tied for second in goals (6) and third in plus/minus (+12). The 5'10", 184-pound defenseman has registered 166 points (34g, 132a) in 383 career AHL games with Bridgeport and Hershey.
