A key Washington Capitals defenseman has been sidelined after undergoing emergency appendectomy surgery, ending his season-long recovery from a lower-body injury. The player, who had recently returned to regular ice time on the team’s second defensive pairing, faces a 4-6 week recovery period before potentially returning to action. His absence could create short-term lineup adjustments for the team’s defensive group. The surgery follows a season marked by his comeback from a separate lower-body issue.

Vincent Desharnais will be out 4-6 weeks for the Washington Capitals after having appendectomy surgery Thursday. The 30-year-old, who had been skating on the second defense pair with Martin Fehervary, ...