Iron-man D Karl Alzner misses Game 3 for Washington Capitals

Washington Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner found himself in unfamiliar territory on Monday as he sat out Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first-round series versus the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre.

Alzner, who is nursing an upper-body injury, sat out for the first time since Game 6 of the 2010 first-round series versus the Montreal Canadiens. The 28-year-old has appeared in 540 consecutive regular-season games.

Nate Schmidt was initially paired with top defenseman John Carlson to replace Alzner, who collected three goals and 10 assists this season while averaging just under 20 minutes of ice time per game.

Schmidt, 25, scored three goals and set up 14 others in 60 games this season for Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington, which entered Monday's tilt tied at one victory apiece with Toronto.