Capitals RW Knuble misses Game 4 against Rangers; Eric Fehr makes series debut

Washington Capitals right wing Mike Knuble (22) scores against New York Rangers goalies Henrik Lundqvist (30) in the third period of Game 3 of their first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, April 17, 2011. The Rangers defeated the Capitals 3-2. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Washington Capitals are playing without forward Mike Knuble in Game 4 of their first-round series against the New York Rangers.

Knuble, who scored in the Capitals' 3-2 loss in Game 3 on Sunday, hasn't been on the ice since that day and was absent for Wednesday morning's skate at Madison Square Garden.

Knuble missed practice Tuesday, but Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said then that it was just a "maintenance day" and that the right wing, who had 24 goals in the regular season, was expected to play in Game 4.

Eric Fehr took Knuble's place in the lineup, making his first appearance in the series.

Knuble appeared to be injured Sunday when he was hit in the right hand by a puck. Jason Chimera was expected to take Knuble's place on the top line alongside Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.