Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom was not in the lineup for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, missing his fourth straight game with a right hand injury.
The Capitals' 4-2 loss Tuesday to the Tampa Bay Lightning was the first time Washington had lost since Backstrom injured his hand.
Backstrom blocked a shot by Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz in Game 5 of their semifinal series, and has worn a brace on his hand since then.
Backstrom has participated in morning skates with the Capitals, but has not taken line rushes or any time with their power-play units. Capitals coach Barry Trotz said before Tuesday's game that Backstrom remains "day-to-day."
The Capitals lead the series 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Thursday in Washington.