An optional skate at Kettler Iceplex this morning as most of the big-minute players too the day off with back-to-back games looming at Buffalo on Saturday and then on Sunday at home against Atlanta.
Rookie center Marcus Johansson was scheduled to make his return from a hip injury on Saturday night anyway. But the injury to center Boyd Gordon during Thursday’s win over Tampa Bay makes that a guarantee. Johansson last played Oct. 21 and had just played two of his best games, according to Washington coach Bruce Boudreau.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s not fun watching,” said Johansson, who played in two games with AHL Hershey while recovering from the injury. He admitted, though, that he can still feel the hip at times. “But I needed those games.”
The issue, though, is who Johansson plays with. Gordon – listed as day-to-day – centered a third line of Jason Chimera and Eric Fehr. Johansson could play there – or move up to the second line, switching places with Tomas Fleischmann. But even there his wingers could be Brooks Laich and Mike Knuble – or maybe Alex Semin drops to that spot again. That seems unlikely after he put up five points playing with the top line on Thursday, but Boudreau admitted he had some decisions to make. Semin, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom totaled 12 points in all on Thursday. So, yeah…they probably deserve a chance to stick together. Boudreau originally planned to play rookie Braden Holtby against the Sabres on Saturday. But he saw action against Philadelphia and Boston last week so Boudreau said he may stick with Michal Neuvirth. As always – that’s to be determined.
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