Right wing to skate Friday for first time since head injury Jay Beagle spent all summer conditioning himself to earn a spot in the Capitals’ opening-day lineup. His hard work finally paid off when he earned a job in training camp as the right wing on the team’s fourth line.
But Beagle made it through just two full regular-season games and two periods before Pittsburgh Penguins forward Arron Asham dispatched him to the injured list with two quick punches to the face. Now Beagle is trying to get back in the lineup after concussion symptoms sidelined him following that Oct. 13 game.
The 26-year-old forward expects to skate Friday at Kettler Iceplex for the first time since his head injury. If he’s OK during that workout and passes neurological tests conducted by Washington’s medical staff sometime this weekend, Beagle hopes to participate in a practice early next week. He likely needs at least a full week of practices before returning to game action.
| UP NEXT |
| Capitals at Hurricanes |
| When » Friday, 7 p.m. |
| Where » RBC Center, |
| Raleigh, N.C. |
| TV » CSN |
| The Southeast Division rivals meet for the second time. The Caps earned a 4-3 overtime win on defenseman Mike Green’s goal in the season opener Oct. 8. |
“You’ve got to be cautious with those things and make sure that you’re feeling 100 percent before going back and doing anything,” Beagle said. “You don’t want to have something else that triggers it and then you’re out for the season or a couple months. A couple weeks doesn’t seem like very long compared to a season or a couple months.”
Beagle says he didn’t think he suffered a concussion after being knocked out in the Asham fight. His symptoms lasted a few days and included short-term headaches, and he has felt fine since then. But he has been diagnosed with a concussion before in his five-year pro career, including time served in the minor leagues, so the Caps exercised caution.
“When you have concussions, there’s the protocol of what you have to go through,” Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. “He’s done everything, so now the next one is skating.”
That protocol, which includes neurological tests with results compared to a baseline often performed during training camp, is to protect players from themselves. Beagle felt well enough that he wanted to return to the Pittsburgh game. It didn’t matter.
“If it was me, I’d play through everything every time,” Beagle said. “It’s hard right away because you want to get back. And then once they explain it to you, they’re like, ‘OK, if we wait a little bit, it’ll be more beneficial in the long run for yourself down the road.’ That’s why they’re here — for our best interest.”
