Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov will miss his first game due to injury tonight against the Colorado Avalanche, but it appears he may be close to returning already.
Three days after getting hurt against the New York Islanders, Kuznetsov took the ice at Pepsi Center and worked with Capitals assistant coaches.
Kuznetsov (upper body) is on the ice after the morning skate working with the assistants. Good sign, I’d say. #Caps pic.twitter.com/j9dqOZjvK3
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) February 13, 2020
“It’s a positive sign to have him back on the ice,” head coach Todd Reirden said to The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir. Wednesday, Reirden said it was possible Kuznetsov could return before the Capitals’ three-game road trip ends. The Caps still have stops in Arizona and Las Vegas to make.
“There’s hope (he’ll play). That’s why we’re bringing him on the trip so he can get proper treatment,” Reirden said. “He keeps making steps in the right direction so we’ll keep him on the same program that we have him on now and hope to get him on the ice as soon as possible.”
Evgeny Kuznetsov (upper body) is out for Capitals tonight but good sign he’s back on the ice after team’s morning skate pic.twitter.com/Z1BNtiothP
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) February 13, 2020
The Russian center will not play against the Avalanche due to an upper-body injury he suffered against the New York Islanders. Kuzy was crunched shoulder first into the boards by Leo Komarov. In pain, Kuznetsov immediately went down the tunnel and did not return.
Full RMNB Coverage of Caps at Avalanche
Headline photo courtesy of @Tarik_ElBashir
