Alexander Semin has been practicing this week and looks closer to returning, but his status is unknown for Friday's pivotal divisional matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Semin, who hasn't played since January 8, has been bothered by a groin injury and has played in only 39 games this season. In those 39 games, he has 18 goals and 35 points, but hasn't scored since November 28.
The Capitals are having well-documented problems scoring this season and hope that Semin's imminent return will mean more goals. Coincidentally. Semin has scored six of Washington's 12 goals against the Lightning this season with a hat trick in each of the first two meetings.
In other injury news, Tom Poti was the only regular missing from practice Thursday. Head coach Bruce Boudreau used new line combinations:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Chimera
Laich-Perreault-Semin
Hendricks-Johansson-Knuble-Beagle
King-Gordon-Steckel-Bradley