Caps center Nicklas Backstrom is expected to play tomorrow night against the New York Rangers after getting slashed on the left thumb during a game against the Penguins Monday night.
Backstrom told a Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet that he had a fracture. The team didn’t exactly confirm that diagnosis. But it may not matter. After practice on Thursday Backstrom was not wearing any kind of wrap on his hand. It definitely doesn’t feel much better even after three days. But he’s likely back in the lineup.
“He’s a tough kid,” Bruce Boudreau said, later describing the injury as just “a sore ouchie”.
Backstrom wore his familiar red jersey and skated on the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Mike Knuble. About the only concession to his injured thumb was rookie Marcus Johansson also skating on the top line.
“I couldn’t feel any difference today so we’ll see,” Backstrom said. “As long as it feels good and I can play I’m going to play.”
Meanwhile, defenseman Mike Green missed practice with an illness. Remember, forward Matt Hendricks was sick earlier this week, too. Green has missed five games in a row and six of the last seven games after taking that puck to the head Feb. 6 vs. Pittsburgh. But Boudreau said unless his illness takes a turn for the worse in the next 24 hours he expects Green back in the lineup.
Forward Eric Fehr (shoulder) skated before practice on his own. But both he and defenseman Tom Poti (groin) are still “a ways away”, according to Boudreau. Poti could skate with the team on Friday and be back practicing sometime next week. But getting back into a game? That’s a day-to-day progression with no end in sight. Fehr is more like a week or two away, Boudreau said.
Follow me on Twitter @bmcnally14
