The long-awaited return of Caps defenseman Mike Green won’t happen tonight against the Florida Panthers. But Green will get a game in before the Stanley Cup playoffs begin. He is in the lineup on Saturday night when Washington concludes its regular season with a game at Florida, coach Bruce Boudreau said at Wednesday’s extremely optional morning skate.
“I feel really good,” Green said. “Back to 100 percent, ready to go.”
Boudreau said Green has been symptom-free “for three weeks plus” and that it was the team’s caution that has kept the 25-year-old out of the lineup since Feb. 25 when he took a shot to the head from Rangers forward Derek Stepan.
“I’ve been ready for a while,” Green said. “It’s just they’ve been cautious, getting ready to put me in the lineup when they’re ready. So it’s been up to them, not me.”
Green put in some hard work during the optional skate this morning. After last night’s road game at Toronto only 10 Caps skaters and two goalies took part. Green has played in just two games since taking a puck to the head Feb. 6 against Pittsburgh. Getting a game in before the playoffs begin is a bonus for a player likely to face some rust.
“It’d be nice just to get back in the game and get a feel of things,” Green said. “It’s obviously different than practicing. But I’m in shape, ready to go, expecting to play.”
Wasn’t on some of the recent road trips, but for what it’s worth I don’t believe any team official had used the word “concussion” when addressing Green’s status up until now. Boudreau did so for the first time on Wednesday. I assume the “other people” refers to the good folks up in the ‘Burgh, who have obviously had their own issues with that malady.
“It’s just we’re trying to be as cautious as we can with these things,” Boudreau said. “Just as other people are with guys that they have as concussions. They could probably play. But they want to make 100 percent sure. So we feel that [Green] will be good to go on Saturday.”
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