It’s been a few days so your local media horde asked for a Mike Green update after this morning’s practice. No. 52 did some off-ice work at Kettler Iceplex and told team officials he’s feeling better. We’re coming towards a key part of his recovery process. Caps coach Bruce Boudreau says Green needs three good practices – i.e. not optionals or morning skates – before he’ll even think about getting his star defenseman back in a game. And, obviously, he needs the permission of trainer Greg Smith.
“In a perfect world we’d like to get him back for the last couple of games,” Boudreau said. “I think this week will indicate that. We’ll know by Monday whether he’ll be able to or not.”
With only six games left after this weekend’s trip to Canada it’s hard to see Green being ready before the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs if he can’t get some of that on-ice work in early next week. He will not accompany the team to Ottawa or Montreal.
“We’re not going to say ‘Oh, he’s feeling good let’s put him in,’” Boudreau said. “And I told him again today, ‘Mike, I just want you to get better.’ I said ‘I want you to play. But I want you to get better.’ He was saying how good he felt and I said ‘That’s a fabulous sign.’”
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