John Erskine has an upper-body injury and will not join the Capitals for their three-game road trip beginning Wednesday.

Erskine has an upper-body injury and will not join the Capitals for their three-game road trip beginning Wednesday.

Analysis:

Erskine has been a healthy scratch all season for the Capitals, so it seems likely that he sustained the injury at some point during a recent practice. Since he hasn't been playing regularly for the Capitals anyway, his unavailability for the road trip shouldn't have an impact on coach Barry Trotz's lineup decisions.