We’re stretching now, folks. The Caps held a practice for the third consecutive day – after an day off Easter Sunday – where they still don’t know who the opponent will be in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
That news comes tonight with Game 7s in Boston and Pittsburgh. For now, according to forward Brooks Laich, today’s practice was all about the Caps getting themselves mentally prepared to play Friday – even if the actual schedule has them start Saturday instead.
“I hope it goes to 5 overtimes. I hope it’s really hard-hitting. All of those things,” Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. “But that’s what your’re looking at. And you’re watching on how they’re playing, paying attention to our they doing this, are they doing that? Just kind of keep it in your mind when we finally know what’s going on.
Injury updates: Boudreau says defenseman Mike Green is “fine”, forward Mike Knuble (undisclosed injury) is skating to keep his conditioning up, but not yet ready to return. No timetable there, but Boudreau still believes his veteran right wing will be available during the second round “at some point”. Meanwhile, defenseman Dennis Wideman had hoped to practice by this weekend. But Boudreau said with only one practice left – does he know something about the schedule we don’t? – on Thursday Wideman won’t hit that mark. He’ll sit that one out tomorrow and then “all doors are open”, according to Boudreau.
Knuble, Wideman and defenseman Tom Poti (groin) skated at Kettler Iceplex’s second rink across the main lobby under the eye of strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish. Forward D.J. King was there, too. Those veterans were joined by a gaggle of AHL Hershey recalls – center Mathieu Perreault, defenseman Patrick McNeill, forward Steve Pinizzotto along with goalie Braden Holtby. Forward Andrew Gordon (ankle sprain) may join that group at some point. Unlikely any of those call-ups actually play. But you never know.
“Every experience counts,” Holtby said. “You get to watch what the guys are going through in the playoffs and see what the playoff atmosphere is like, watching the games and whatnot. Who knows, all four of us are going to work hard here and stranger things have happened- you just have to be ready.”
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