Capitals defenseman Mike Green (right ankle) and forward Troy Brouwer (shoulder) will accompany the team on its trip to play the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders this weekend. Doesn’t mean either is likely to play. Green left practice after about 10 minutes on Thursday. Brouwer didn’t participate at all and was not made available to reporters
Washington coach Bruce Boudreau basically ruled Green out of Friday’s game and it wouldn’t make much sense to have him play on Saturday without any practice time. Brouwer appears a little closer since he’s only missed two practice days. But Boudreau said the team will see how Brouwer feels at the morning skate and make a decision. Again, no reason to push it.
Meanwhile, forward Jay Beagle (concussion) says he will skate on Friday for the first time since the Oct. 13 game at Pittsburgh where he took two punches to the face from Arron Asham. Beagle will not be on the trip, however. If he passes the tests administered by the team’s medical staff this weekend he should be cleared to practice early next week.
Everyone was tight-lipped on who will play in goal this weekend. But Boudreau did concede each goalie should get a game. He’s already played Michal Neuvirth against Carolina once – the season-opening game on Oct. 8. And Neuvirth’s 2-1 record against the Hurricanes with a 2.64 goals-against average and .911 save percentage doesn’t hurt. He also earned his first career shutout against Carolina – Oct. 22, 2010. That would leave the Islanders for Tomas Vokoun. He has a 1.97 goals-against average in his career against that club with a .937 save percentage in 20 games. We’ll see if that holds at the morning skate tomorrow.
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