Things had gone a little quiet on the Nicklas Backstrom concussion front since the minor controversy over the exact purpose of the forward's trip to Sweden earlier this month.
But Wednesday, Mike Vogel of the Capitals' website hit us all with this bolt out of the blue:
Good news for #Caps fans: Nicklas Backstrom skated y-day and is skating again today at 11 am. On the ice now.
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) March 14, 2012
Today was an official day off for the Caps after their 5-4 shootout win over the New York Islanders Tuesday night. According to the Post's Tarik El-Bashir, Backstrom spent about 20 minutes on the ice before taking his leave and reportedly felt fine in the locker room afterwards. He's also expected to skate tomorrow, when the team reconvenes for practice.
It's good to see the centerman making progress, but it's crucial from here on out that the Capitals don't rush him back. It may be a tough ask, with the playoffs just four weeks away, but it's the right thing to do for Backstrom's long-term health and his viability in the league.
For more on the Capitals, visit Japers Rink. For more on the rest of the league, visit SB Nation's NHL hub.