Washington Capitals' Mathieu Perreault taken to hospital with upper body injury

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Washington Capitals centre Mathieu Perreault was taken to a hospital after sustaining what the team called an upper-body injury in Monday's 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

A team spokesperson said the plan was for Perreault to rejoin the team in Washington on Tuesday after staying in Buffalo overnight, though he noted Perreault may not necessarily stay in the hospital.

Perreault was hurt in the third period when his stick got caught in the boards and jammed into his midsection while he was attempting to hit a Buffalo player in the corner. Perreault stayed down on the ice for a minute before skating slumped over to the bench under his own power.

He was able to finish the game, but in the Washington dressing room he was evaluated by medical personnel before being transported to the hospital.

Perreault ended a seven-game pointless skid with an assist on Matt Hendricks' second-period goal that made it 4-1. The three-year veteran has seven points in 23 games this season.