Capitals’ Vincent lorio day-to-day with upper-body injury

Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery noted that defenseman Vincent lorio is out day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Iorio was hit awkwardly into the boards by New York Rangers forward Alexis Lafreniere during game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Newsday’s Colin Stephenson reported Iorio was favoring his right shoulder as he left the ice. He did not return to the game on Sunday, playing a total of 1:50 of ice time during his Stanley Cup playoff debut.

The 21-year-old appeared in six games with the Capitals during the 2023-24 regular season and was held pointless. During the 2022-23 campaign, he registered one assist in three games.

Iorio has spent much of his pro career with the Capitals’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Hershey Bears. This season, he tallied four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in 60 games and added 30 penalty minutes. Iorio ranked fourth among the Bears’ defenders in points and assists.

The Coquitlam, British Columbia native made his NHL debut in March of the 2022-23 season, playing just three games before starting this year with Hershey. He made his season debut with the Caps on March 30 against the Boston Bruins and ended up playing six regular-season games.

Iorio was initially selected No. 55 overall in the NHL Draft and signed him to an entry-level contract following his WHL tenure with the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Washington is slated to face off against the Rangers in game 2 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday. New York has a 1-0 series lead.