Both the Caps and Chicago Blackhawks skated at a jam-packed Kettler Iceplex on Saturday morning in anticipation of their nationally televised game tomorrow afternoon.
Let’s get the injury updates out of the way. Nicklas Backstrom says he’s not ready to play with his fractured left thumb still in a removable cast. Not worth it until it’s 100% – or as close to that as he can get. Backstrom smiled and admitted team trainer Greg Smith has had to reel him in a bit. This is someone not used to sitting after a consecutive-games played streak of 313 ended this week.
“Obviously, you want to play,” Backstrom said. “But at the same time you have to make sure you are 100 percent, I think. That’s what’s important right now. We’ve been talking about that, too. So hopefully I can get back soon and be ready to play.”
Defenseman Mike Green is another work-in-progress. He did skate again as he makes his way back from a pair of head shots last month. But still no timetable for his return.
“I think now I know how I feel and what’s too much and what’s not,” Green said. “I do have some time so there’s no point in rushing. I’m not pushing too hard until I’m ready. And I’m getting better each day, which is good.”
Braden Holtby will start again in goal on Sunday against the Blackhawks, but Michal Neuvirth says he’s feeling better after taking a puck off the mask in Tampa Bay on Monday night. He has been on the ice every day since Wednesday and should get a start soon – though Holtby is making it hard to take him out of the lineup. Fellow goalie Semyon Varlamov took shots before practice, but didn’t stay on the ice long once his teammates joined him. Looks like that original 7-to-10 day window will be extended.
Tom Poti skated with the scratches during yesterday’s morning skate – a hard stint under the care of assistant coaches Dean Evason and Bob Woods. It’s a little tougher routine than the regular non-contact portion of a practice so Poti was encouraged. But again, no immediate timetable for his return either. Once he’s fit enough to get through an entire practice with contact and full stops and starts we’ll know Poti is close.
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