WASHINGTON D.C. - The Washington Capitals are the only Eastern Conference team that have advanced to the second round and while they wait for their opponent to be determined, the players took part in a full practice Tuesday at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.
Mike Knuble and Dennis Wideman, who are both recovering from injury, skated before practice. Knuble stayed on the ice and joined his teammates for practice, but was not assigned to a specific line. Knuble missed Games 4 and 5 of Washington's first round series with the New York Rangers with what is believed to be a hand injury.
"I've been skating everyday, just trying to keep my legs up and stuff," Knuble said. "I'm encouraged by the way things are going. I'm day-to-day. It's a terrible answer, but it's what I got to say. There's a fine line between coming back and helping and coming back and hurting the team, so that's my main concern."
Meanwhile, Wideman left the ice after about 15 minutes. Head coach Bruce Boudreau said later that he was feeling "lightheaded." Wideman has not played since March 29 when he suffered a leg hematoma after a collision with the Carolina Hurricanes' Tuomo Ruutu.
Conspicuous in his absence was Alexander Semin, who did not practice Tuesday. Boudreau said that Semin is suffering from "a little bit of the flu" and was told to say home and rest.
Mike Green also skated for the Capitals despite taking a slap shot to the head in Game 5 vs. the Rangers. For more on Green, check out this StoryStream.