Grabo lives! (Photo: @scarletcaps)
When we last got an update about Mikhail Grabovski‘s status, we heard from the translated horse’s mouth that he wasn’t planning to skate for another two weeks, putting off a potential return until early April.
“I feel good, but the doctors say the rehab isn’t over,” Grabovski said last Monday to Tribuna’s Vadim Knyrko. “Don’t expect me on the ice for the next two weeks.”
Just seven days later, Grabo returned to said ice to skate a full practice session for the first time since February 27th, a morning skate in Florida. Grabovski, who has missed 20 of the last 21 games due to a sprained left ankle injury which he then re-injured in his first shift back against the Panthers, skated as an extra on the Caps’ fourth line.
When asked if Grabovski could play as soon as Saturday against the Boston Bruins, head coach Adam Oates replied after practice, “[It’s] possible, I guess. We’ll see how he responds tomorrow.”
Grabovski was also happy to be back out on the ice with his teammates.
#Caps Grabo "I feel better. I feel like excited." added "we'll see this week."
— Sky Kerstein (@SkyKersteinSJSU) March 24, 2014
While Washington earned five out of a possible six points in their daunting west coast swing last week, Grabovski could help reignite the Caps’ top six, which has struggled mightily to find the back of the net at even strength lately. Consider that during the Caps last three games, only one line other than Joel Ward, Eric Fehr, and Jason Chimera has scored at even strength: the fourth line against the Sharks on Saturday.
So in closing, while we love Jay Beagle, we’ll love him so much more once he’s no longer centering Alex Ovechkin on the top line. Get well soon, Grabo!
