Carlson 'fine,' Backstrom expected to play but will be re-evaluated Monday

The Washington Capitals' two key injured players appear to be good bets to suit up for Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night.

Capitals head coach Barry Trotz said defenseman John Carlson is fine, and he expects Nicklas Backstrom to play but cautioned "we'll see where he is (Monday)," according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post.

Carlson was hit up high by Jake Guentzel with about a minute remaining in Saturday's 6-3 Capitals win. Carlson is the Capitals' average ice-time leader in the playoffs (27:02) after having that distinction during the regular season (24:47) and ranks fourth overall in the league in that department during the postseason, to go along with 11 points in as many games.

Backstrom left Saturday's contest in the third period with an injury the club would only describe as an "upper-body" ailment.

The all-world center played only 15:55 in Game 5, and didn't return after his fifth shift of the third frame. Three of Backstrom's last four spells on the ice lasted 11 seconds or fewer, and he departed for good after a nine-second stint with 13:12 remaining in the third period.

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