When the Washington Capitals (15-12-1, 31 points) host the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia Flyers (18-7-3, 39 points) on Tuesday night, they will not have to contend with Flyers winger Claude Giroux, the NHL's points leader with 39. According to Sarah Baicker of Comcast SportsNet, Giroux has a concussion and will be "out indefinitely" as he recovers.
Giroux recorded a goal in the previous meeting between Washington and Philadelphia this season, a 5-2 victory for the Capitals. The Caps improved to 6-0-0 on the season with that win and went on to win their next game, moving their record to 7-0-0 to start the year. Since that time, however, the club has gone 8-12-1 and seen the dismissal of coach Bruce Boudreau.
The 23-year-old Giroux took a knee to the head in Philadelphia's 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, which caused the concussion.
For more on the Capitals, please visit Japers' Rink, SB Nation's Caps blog. For the perspective from the other side, please visit SB Nation Philly and Broad Street Hockey, SB Nation's Flyers blog.