Via Capitals beat writer Tarik El-Bashir's blog "Capitals Insider":
Forward Jay Beagle has been recalled from Hershey, Coach Bruce Boudreau said moments ago. When asked why Beagle was recalled, Boudreau said, "I have my reasons".
Those reasons figure to be replacing Michael Nylander in the lineup. Eric Fehr has been ailing with an unknown minor injury (serious enough to keep him out of the lineup) so the Caps need to fill a 3rd/4th line winger role. They attempted to use Nylander in that slot, but the veteran playmaker who's a natural center obviously wasn't cast properly and didn't do that well in Game 3.
Also remember that enforcer/winger Donald Brashear still has two games remaining on his NHL suspension and will be eligible to play in Game 6, if the series gets that far and if the Caps decide to use him.
The promotion of Beagle is curious. While the 23 year old Beagle does play the simple, gritty, physical style that Boudreau is surely looking for on his 4th line, Beagle only has 3 games NHL experience (all this season, pointless every game). The Caps have other prospects in Hershey that have more experience and could fill the same role like Chris Bourque, Keith Aucoin and Graham Mink to name a few.
Like Boudreau said, he has his reasons though. Maybe some of that includes not pulling up a guy like Aucoin who's a very important player for Hershey. Obviously the fate of the NHL series is more important to the franchise than the AHL, but you don't want to gut the lower level of your organization. It's more likely Beagle's just playing well and more compatible with an open role in Washington.