Washington Capitals Recall Skilled forward Matthew Phillips

With a critical game upcoming against the Carolina Hurricanes and two crucial points on the line, the Washington Capitals have made an intriguing roster move on Friday.

The move comes with veteran star Tom Wilson facing a major suspension, as Phillips could add some skill to the Capitals forward group as they look to battle back into a playoff spot in the tight Eastern Conference race. Right now, they sit three points behind the Red Wings in the Wild Card race and four points behind the Flyers in the Metropolitan Division race, making every game going forward must-win.

As for Matthew Phillips, he rejoins the NHL after a solid three points in four games for the Hershey Bears, with the league still waiting to see his full potential on display. After scoring his first NHL goal against his former team the Calgary Flames earlier in the season, Phillips has tallied just four more assists in 27 games with the Capitals, who are hoping he can finally translate his AHL production to the top league going forward.

If not, it's hard to see where his future lies, but with Wilson expected to miss at least six games via suspension, he now has the perfect opportunity to solidify himself as an NHL regular alongside one of the greatest goal scorers the game has ever seen.