The Washington Capitals have played the last two games without two of their top forwards, Tom Wilson and Aliaksei Protas. Both top-six wingers sustained lower-body injuries last week and have been out of the lineup since.
Wilson skated in a no-contact jersey for a second straight day before Thursday morning’s practice, while Protas was a full participant. Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery indicated the pair could potentially draw back in during the Capitals’ two-game road trip at the end of the week, which will kick off in Chicago on Friday before a Sunday game in Nashville.
“They both will [travel],” Carbery said. “Yeah, there’s a chance tomorrow. We’ll see. Pro’s closer than Willy.”
The Capitals placed Protas on injured reserve retroactive to the first of the month, so he can be freely activated at any point moving forward. Washington will need to return Brett Leason, who made his season debut on Wednesday, to the Hershey Bears before moving Protas back to their active roster.
Wilson, the team’s leading scorer with 42 points (22g, 20a) in 41 games, has yet to join the rest of his teammates for a practice since he was injured against the Blackhawks last Saturday. While Protas seems like a real possibility to play both games on the upcoming trip, Carbery had a less positive outlook on Wilson’s status.
“I think that would be a long shot, for him to play tomorrow,” Carbery said. “Pro practiced today, so we’ll talk to Serbs (head athletic trainer Jason Serbus) on him and see where he’s at for tomorrow. But, Willy, further away.”
Without Protas and Wilson, the Capitals were able to outlast an Anaheim Ducks comeback in a 7-4 win on Monday, but looked lifeless in a 4-1 defeat to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night.
The Capitals will be joined on their weekend road trip by many of their fathers and other family members as part of the team’s annual Mentors’ Trip.
