Per the team this morning, the Washington Capitals have recalled defenseman Bryan Helmer and right wing Andrew Gordon, to buttress the forces in response to the current spate of injury absences.

From the press release:

Gordon, 23, is a 6’0”, 185-pound second-year pro from Halifax, Nova Scotia.  He has 20 points (10g-10a) in 30 AHL games this year and is one of only four Bears to have double-digit goals and assists. Gordon has two game-winning goals and has tallied at least one point in 15 games this season.

He was the Capitals’ seventh-round choice, 197th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Gordon skated in 58 games for Hershey last year and in 11 for the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays. He ranked third in Hershey and tied for fourth among AHL rookies with 51 points (16g-35a) and tied for second on the team and was fifth among AHL rookies in assists. Gordon, No. 63 with Washington, led Hershey in playoff scoring with five points (3g-2a) in five games. He had 14 points (8g-6a) in the regular season for South Carolina last year and tallied eight points (5g-3a) in nine playoff games for the Stingrays.

Joe Hermitt/The Patriot News

Joe Hermitt/The Patriot News

We learned yesterday via Tarik that David Steckel and Donald Brashear are both questionable tonight, and so it’s possible, though not certain, that A. Gordon [as the back of his jersey would read] will become the sixth Cap this season to make his NHL debut (after Tyler Sloan, Karl Alzner, Sean Collins, Oskar Osala, and Simeon Varlamov).

I’ve been waiting to see this kid in the show since interviewing him during July’s development camp.  While not terribly imposing in stature, he brings a strong desire to fill a role on the team that’s always in demand.  I asked him over the summer:

Q.  [During the day's scrimmage], you were on the power play and in front of the net. Is that a place that you’re comfortable with?

A. That’s my favorite spot on the power play. If I had my selection, I’d be there all of the time. Its easy to pick up some junk there, get some tips and stuff. [. . .] I’ve really taken a liking to it. I’ve sort of made it my second home. I like to hang around there as much as possible.

So crank up some Matt Mays in honor of “The Other” Gordo, and get set for another eventful Capitals / Rangers battle tonight.