The Washington Capitals hit the ice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Tuesday morning ahead of their first meeting with the Anaheim Ducks this season. They were not joined by goaltender Charlie Lindgren, as the 31-year-old backstop missed his second straight day of on-ice work due to an upper-body injury.
Lindgren was bowled over in his crease against the Montreal Canadiens last Friday and placed on injured reserve a day later. Despite Lindgren not lacing up his skates the past two days, head coach Spencer Carbery provided an optimistic update on the netminder’s return progress.
“Trending in the right direction,” Carbery said. “Didn’t skate today, but things are looking positive.”
Lindgren will miss at least the next two games against the Ducks and Ottawa Senators before he’s eligible to be activated from the IR Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Logan Thompson was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, so he will start against Anaheim with Hunter Shepard again serving as backup.
Carbery also shared the latest on forward Sonny Milano. Milano, formerly of the Ducks, has not played since November 6 against the Nashville Predators, eventually placed on long-term injured reserve due to an upper-body injury.
The 28-year-old winger has yet to shed his light blue no-contact jersey but is ramping up his participation in practices after spending weeks skating on his own with skills coach Kenny McCudden. Milano has gotten into just three games this year after posting 23 points (15g, 8a) in 49 games last season.
“He’s progressing as well,” Carbery said. “I think now he’s getting involved in some practices and some drills – at the start without any contact. And so I think starting to get to that point where maybe in the next week or so, integrate him back into some practice and some live action. We’ll see how it goes. I don’t want to speak out of turn, but that’s his next step.”
Sonny Milano is participating in morning skate today, still in a no-contact jersey. pic.twitter.com/8GeZv7B9b6
— Katie Adler (@katieEadler) January 14, 2025
The Ducks currently sit sixth in the NHL’s Pacific Division. They are in the middle of a lengthy, six-game road trip, dropping two games to the St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers before downing the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime on Sunday.
Washington hosts Anaheim and then will head out on a quick trip to Ottawa before returning home to play the Penguins on Saturday night.
