BALLSTON, Va. - Before heading out on their first multi-game road trip of the season, the Washington Capitals practiced Tuesday at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. All players participated with the exceptions of Jay Beagle and Mike Green. Beagle has yet to return to practice since his fight with the Pittsburgh Penguins' Arron Asham October 13, while Green missed practice Monday as well with a twisted right ankle suffered during Saturday's 7-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings.
Beagle - along with John Erskine - will not make the trip to Western Canada this week, but Green and call-up Sean Collins will travel with the Caps to Edmonton and Vancouver.
"He's going on the trip," head coach Bruce Boudreau said in regards to Green. "We're hoping he can skate tomorrow."
Meanwhile, it can be inferred based on Boudreau's comments after practice that Michal Neuvirth could start Thursday against the Oilers. Neuvirth, who hasn't played since October 8, has fully participated in the last few practices and seems ready to return after suffering a bruised right foot October 10. When asked about how Tomas Vokoun's recent string of success will play into Neuvirth's return, Boudreau opened up.
"I told him that he's probably starting Thursday, just take what you need tomorrow," Boudreau said. "He's got to work hard like everybody else the first two days and whatever he needs tomorrow to get ready for Thursday, get ready."
Though it seemed that Boudreau was referring to Neuvirth, when asked to clarify, he was coy.
"[I] told one of them," he said.