Some brief notes from Caps practice this morning. Alex Ovechkin was indeed back on the ice and looking a iittle bit better than in recent days. Forward Alex Semin, who scored twice in Wednesday’s 5-4 win over the Islanders, was not. He is still dealing with a sore wrist. Center Nicklas Backstrom also too the day off – it was an optional skate.
Center David Steckel was not here either. His grandmother passed away this week so thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Caps coach Bruce Boudreau thought Steckel would be back for the morning skate Friday. But his status for the game against Minnesota, obviously, is up in the air.
Fellow center Boyd Gordon, though, looks ready to go on Friday night. He’s had three good practices now and skated hard on his own last weekend. The back injury that has sidelined him since Oct. 12 seems to be letting up. He’s one of their best penalty-killers and a right-handed center – which the Caps don’t have right now – so it would be nice to have him back.
That likely would spell the end for rookie Mathieu Perreault, who has been playing with distinction as the third-line center since last week. The 21-year-old would likely head back to Hershey. Although another roster spot could open if a certain Swedish center finalizes a deal to play in the KHL. Nothing new to report on the Michael Nylander saga, by the way. Caps didn’t even say if an update was coming today. But we’ll stay on top of it.
