Capitals' Sonny Milano: Suffers setback in recovery
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General manager Chris Patrick said Friday that Milano (upper body) recently sustained a "significant setback" in his recovery, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.
Milano has been sidelined since early November due to his upper-body injury, and the Capitals are still working to determine the next steps in his recovery process following his setback. He had resumed skating in a non-contact sweater in mid-January, but it certainly seems possible that his setback could keep him sidelined for the remainder of the regular season.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: Practices Wednesday
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Milano (upper body) took part in Wednesday's practice, though he was wearing a non-contact jersey, per Tom Gulitti of NHL.com.
Milano shouldn't be expected to return to the Capitals' lineup until he starts taking contact, but he's making progress. He has no points, four shots and a hit over three appearances with Washington in 2024-25. Milano should be in the mix for a fourth-line spot once he's healthy.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: Return not imminent
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Milano (upper body) is not expected back in the short term after head coach Spencer Carbery told reporters Friday, "It's still a ways away from him getting into games. He's been out for a significant amount of time, so we're going to need at least a week of practice to get him back up and running," Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
Milano has been on the shelf since Nov. 6 versus the Predators, a stretch of 29 games out of the lineup. Even once cleared to return, Milano is far from a lock to play on a nightly basis and will likely need to compete with Jakub Vrana for a spot in the lineup. Given his uncertain return to action and inability to firmly cement himself in the lineup, fantasy players probably should be looking at alternative depth options.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: Participates in morning skate
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Milano (upper body) joined the Capitals for Wednesday's morning skate, though he didn't take contact, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.
Milano not being ready to take contact suggests he's still not close to returning, but this is still an important step in the right direction. The 28-year-old hasn't played since Nov. 6 because of the injury. When healthy, Milano will likely serve as a depth forward for Washington, shifting between the bottom six and press box.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: Moved to LTIR
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Milano (upper body) was shifted to long-term injured reserve Wednesday, Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press reports.
Milano remains without a clear recovery timeline -- though this move will keep him out for at least the rest of November -- and the team could use the cap space now that Alex Ovechkin (lower leg) was placed on injured reserve. Even once cleared to play, the 28-year-old Milano was struggling to get into the lineup ahead of Jakub Vrana, so don't be surprised if Milano ends up on waivers or even in the minors later in the campaign.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: Without clear timeline
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Milano (upper body) remains without a definitive recovery timeline, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports Wednesday.
Head coach Spencer Carbery didn't have a real update on Milano, so at this point, the winger should probably be considered out indefinitely. Even once cleared to play, the New York native's path to minutes is going to be muddy, especially with the team acquiring Lars Eller from the Penguins on Tuesday. Don't be surprised if Milano ends up on waivers for the purpose of reassigning him to the minors once cleared to play.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: Placed on injured reserve
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Milano (upper body) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, per the NHL media site.
Milano missed Friday's contest versus the Penguins. He has been a healthy scratch on nine occasions this season and has played in three games with nary a point. Jakub Vrana is expected to remain in the lineup with Milano out of action.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: Not playing Friday
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Milano will miss Friday's game versus Washington with an upper-body injury, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
Milano played in the last two games after being a healthy scratch nine games in a row. The bottom-six forward has yet to pick up a point in three games this season. Look for Jakub Vrana to re-enter the lineup in Milano's absence.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: Frequent healthy scratch
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Milano was scratched for the eighth time in nine games when he sat out Thursday's 6-3 win over the Canadiens.
Milano hasn't played since Opening Night, when he logged a meager 5:52 of ice time and took a minus-3 rating. The 28-year-old winger had 15 goals and 23 points over 49 regular-season games in 2023-24, a campaign that was interrupted multiple times by injuries and illnesses. With the Capitals off to a 7-2-0 start, Milano may be waiting a while for his next opportunity to compete for a spot in the lineup.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: Suiting up Friday
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Milano (undisclosed) will be in action against the Rangers for Game 3 on Friday, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
Milano has scored just two goals in his last 13 outings while registering a mere 10 shots over that span. Nicolas Aube-Kubel figures to find himself watching from the press box with Milano available to play Friday.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: In doubt Friday
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Milano (undisclosed) missed Thursday's morning skate, raising doubts about his availability versus the Rangers for Game 3 on Friday, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.
Milano is pointless in the postseason through two games while chipping in just one shot and a minus-2 rating over that span. Despite playing in only 49 regular-season contests, the 27-year-old winger still set a new personal best with 15 goals, though he missed the 30-point threshold for the first time in the last three years.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: Two-goal outburst
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Milano scored two goals in a 4-2 win over the Lightning on Saturday.
The goals were his first in nine games. Milan has a career-high 15 tallies in 2023-24, but he hasn't been a reliable fantasy play. Milano's 31.3 shooting percentage is almost double his career mark (16.2). He has also put up points (five goals) in just two of his last 16 games.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: Returns to lineup
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Milano played 19:06 of ice time in a 3-2 shootout loss to Boston on Saturday.
After missing the last two games with an upper-body injury, Milano returned to his regular spot on the third line centered by Hendrix Lapierre. Milano finished with a minus-1 rating, bringing him down to plus-6 this season. With 20 points (13 goals) in 40 appearances in 2023-24, the 27-year-old winger is hard to trust as a point producer in fantasy.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: Game-time decision against Bruins
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Milano (upper body) will be a game-time call for Saturday's matchup with Boston, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
Milano looks poised to return from a two-game absence due to his upper-body issue. In his last 12 outings, the 27-year-old winger has notched seven goals and two assists, including a pair of power-play points. If Milano does suit up Saturday, he could slot into a second-line role in place of Ivan Miroshnichenko.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: Out Tuesday
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Milano (upper body) won't play Tuesday versus the Red Wings, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.
Milano was injured Sunday versus the Jets and will have to miss at least one game. His absence will allow Michael Sgarbossa and Nicolas Aube-Kubel to remain in the lineup. Milano's next chance to play is Thursday in Toronto.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: Won't return Sunday
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Milano (upper body) won't return to Sunday's game against the Jets.
It would be a tough blow for the Caps if Milano is forced to miss additional time -- the 27-year-old winger recorded a hat trick against the Hurricanes in his previous outing, giving him nine goals and 12 points in his last 15 contests. Overall, Milano has 20 points (13 goals, seven assists) this season. Michael Sgarbossa would likely be the next man up if Milano isn't ready to play Tuesday against the Red Wings.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: First career hat trick Friday
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Milano scored three goals, one on the power play, in Friday's 7-6 shootout win over the Hurricanes.
The 27-year-old winger produced his first career hat trick by scoring a goal in each period and flashing some incredible stickwork on two of them. Milano has just 13 goals and 20 points in 38 games on the season, but he's caught fire in March, erupting for seven goals and nine points in 11 contests. He needs only two more tallies to set a new career high.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: Goals in five straight
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Milano scored a goal on his lone shot in Saturday's 4-1 win over Chicago.
Milano extended the Caps' lead to 4-0 late in the second period, one-timing an Aliaksei Protas feed past Petr Mrazek. The 27-year-old Milano has been on a tear, scoring in five straight games and notching eight points (six goals, two assists) in eight games since returning from an extended stay on IR. He's up to 10 goals, four shy of a career high, and 16 points through 31 games this season.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: Two more points Thursday
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Milano tallied a goal and an assist in Thursday's 6-0 win over the Penguins.
Milano picked up an assist on Ivan Miroshnichenko's tally late in the second period before adding a goal early in the third, beating Alex Nedeljkovic with a wrister to extend Washington's lead to 6-0. The 27-year-old Milano now has goals in four straight contests and seven points (five goals, two assists) in seven outings since returning from a 27-game stint on injured reserve. Overall, Milano's up to nine goals and 15 points through 30 games this season.
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Capitals' Sonny Milano: Back in lineup Friday
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Milano (illness) will return to the lineup Friday versus Philadelphia, according to Tom Gulitti of NHL.com.
Milano missed the last two games with his illness. The 27-year-old has six goals and five assists in 27 games this season. He will line up on the second line alongside alongside Dylan Strome and Max Pacioretty against the Flyers.
