Nicklas Backstrom Placed On Long-Term Injured Reserve Ahead Of 2012 NHL Trade Deadline

The Capitals are in the thick of the Southeast Division race and are undoubtedly the most talented team in the mix there, but they’ve been inconsistent all season long. Perhaps McPhee believes a deadline deal will give them the necessary boost they need to get to the postseason yet again.

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↵On Friday, this happened:

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But ah, Joel Rechlicz is on the team now, and he doesn’t care if Bourque has paid the price for the hit. The Caps play the Canadiens on Saturday, and Rechlisz has plans.

He wasn’t done talking, either.

The fight was more or less a draw as both Hendricks and Bourque landed several shots, but Bourque might be considered the winner for the sole purpose that he fell on top of Hendricks at center ice before the officials pulled them apart. Either way, the Caps stood up for Backstrom and themselves, which is really all that matters.

The incident occurred at 10:06 of the third period and was assessed as a minor penalty for elbowing at the time.

Bourque is classified as a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement since he wasalso suspended last month.