Caps defenseman set to return Saturday
The long-awaited return of Capitals defenseman Mike Green is set for Saturday night against the Florida Panthers in the regular-season finale.
Washington coach Bruce Boudreau made that announcement during the morning skate before Wednesday’s home game against the Panthers. Green has played just twice since Feb. 6 thanks to separate head injuries. The first happened during a game against Pittsburgh when a puck struck Green near the right temple. The second was a hit to the head by New York Rangers forward Derek Stepan on Feb. 25. Green has missed the last 19 games.
“I’ve been ready for a while,” Green said. “It’s just they’ve been cautious, getting ready to put me in the lineup when they’re ready. So it’s been up to them, not me.”
Green and Boudreau both said the 25-year-old defenseman has been free of post-concussion symptoms for almost three weeks. He had another hard workout during the optional morning skate Wednesday. Green’s return bolsters a blue line that is still without Tom Poti (groin) and Dennis Wideman (hematoma). But defenseman John Erskine (undisclosed) and Tyler Sloan (head injury) entered Wednesday apparently healthy after recovering from injuries last week.
“It’s just we’re trying to be as cautious as we can with these things,” Boudreau said. “Just as other people are with guys that they have as concussions. They could probably play. But they want to make 100 percent sure. So we feel that [Green] will be good to go on Saturday.”
