Ed Mulholland-US Presswire

Ryan Carter will not suit up for the New Jersey Devils in tonight’s contest against the Washington Capitals. Carter was hit in the head by two Ottawa Senators in Monday afternoon’s game. He appeared dazed on the play and did not return afterward.

Carter was seen by doctors following the game, and admitted to reporters on Tuesday that he had a headache in the evening. However, the team is not calling his diagnosis a concussion, or even a head injury for that matter. It is being referred to as an “upper body injury.”

“He’s not going on IR,” GM Lou Lamoriello said in an interview with Tom Gullitti this morning. “He’s day-to-day. That’s all I’ll say about it right now.”

Carter did not make the trip with the team and is apparently allowed to work out off the ice. Lamoriello would not say if Carter would be in the lineup when the team returned to New Jersey on Sunday to play the Winnipeg Jets.

18-year old rookie Stefan Matteau will get the opportunity to play left wing on the fourth line with Stephen Gionta and Steve Bernier.

Matteau was the Devils’ first-round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He was the twenty-ninth pick overall.

The youngster’s first NHL goal came against Marc-Andre Fleury and the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 9. Thus far this season, Matteau has one goal and one assist. He has skated in nine games for the Devils.

“I’m glad to be back in,” Matteau said in an interview for newjerseydevils.com. “I’m going to try and stick and work as hard as I can. You never want to see someone get hurt. It’s an opportunity for me to play. Carter is a great player. I hope he comes back soon.”

Matteau’s father, Stephane, scored the dramatic double overtime game seven goal in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals against Martin Brodeur which sent the Devils home and the New York Rangers on to their first Stanley Cup since 1940.