Optional skate at Kettler Iceplex less than 24 hours after the Caps dropped a 3-2 decision at Madison Square Garden to the New York Rangers. That sets up a pivotal Game 4 in New York – though we’ll have wait until Wednesday to see it.
There were 10 skaters on the ice plus goalie Semyon Varlamov. Of those who actually played in Game 3 John Erskine, Jason Chimera, Matt Hendricks, Boyd Gordon and Matt Bradley participated.
“It’s a big game,” Gordon said. “Obviously you want to go in there get the win, get the split. It’s going to take a big effort. It’s been a tight series defensively and a goal here and there’s been the difference. We expect more of the same next game.”
Defenseman Dennis Wideman – still recovering from a right leg hematoma – did not skate on Monday. That’s because he went hard on Sunday morning, according to coach Bruce Boudreau, and needed a break today.
“It’s too tough for me to answer. But his rate of recovery right now is quicker than I had anticipated,” Boudreau said when asked about a timetable for Wideman returning. “I’m sure he wants to play and he wants to get back in. and I don’t know him well enough to say it’s not going happen, so who knows.
Wideman is still listed as week-to-week. Boudreau said earlier this series it wasn’t out of the question Wideman could return before the end of the first round. No word on any lineup changes for Wednesday’s game. Eric Fehr is always an option at forward if Boudreau wants to go in that direction. Until we see who is at practice tomorrow it’s tough to determine if everyone came out of Game 3 unscathed.
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