There is real tangible progress on the Nicklas Backstrom injury front.
Arguably the team’s best two-way player, Backstrom rotated in and took *some* line-rushes during the morning skate Thursday. Backstrom centered the team’s third line and also practiced on the Caps first power-play unit. He did not stay on the ice for extra work after practice.
These are all strong indications that Backstrom will return for Game Four. Or… maybe not. Who knows? Gamesmanship is fun!
Here’s are the pertinent Backstrom-related tweets.
Caps AM skate lines:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Eller-Oshie
Burakovsky-Stephenson-Connolly
DSP-Beagle-ChiassonKempny-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Djoos*But Backstrom rotated into the third line on the second time through rushes. It was Stephenson-Backstrom-Connolly
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 17, 2018
Backstrom rotated in during line rushes. So his status remains unclear. He didn’t take any rushes Sunday or Tuesday, tho. #Caps
— Tarik El-Bashir⌨️🎙🏒 (@TarikNBCS) May 17, 2018
Backstrom practicing on the first power play unit 👀
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 17, 2018
Interestingly, Burakovsky is on the second power play unit. So, if Backstrom comes back in, don’t think it’s Burakovsky that’s scratched. Think it would be one of the wingers on the fourth line. We’ll see.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 17, 2018
Caps say Nicklas Backstrom is not medically cleared yet, which is why the team is not letting him chat with the media yet. But that doesn’t mean he won’t be cleared by game time.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 17, 2018
Alex Ovechkin says “It would be pretty cool” if Nicklas Backstrom returns tonight.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) May 17, 2018
Backstrom didn’t stay on the ice late for extra work with scratches. Another sign he could be playing tonight.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 17, 2018
Here’s what Trotz had to say in post-skate presser.
Trotz walks into presser. Says Backstrom is a “game-time decision.” Hasn’t been medically clearly yet. Calls him “day-to-day.”
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 17, 2018
A big Hmmmmmm.
Well he looked loose at practice pic.twitter.com/EJIlYgeCjd
— Erin_Wilson (@pacergal84) May 17, 2018
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