The Washington Capitals will be getting a huge addition as they battle to make the Eastern Conference playoffs. Center Nicklas Backstrom, who has missed the last 40 contests after suffering a concussion on January 3 in a game against the Calgary Flames, will play Saturday night when the Capitals host the Montreal Canadiens at the Verizon Center. Backstrom confirmed Saturday morning he would play, and now head coach Dale Hunter has chimed in as well.
Via the team's official twitter feed:
#Cap head coach Dale Hunter confirms that #Caps forward Nicklas Backstrom will be back in the lineup tonight against Montreal. #CapsHabs
— Washington Capitals (@washcaps) March 31, 2012
Washington will look to build on the momentum of their vital 3-2 shootout win over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night, in which they earned two points to keep the heat on the Buffalo Sabres in the playoff chase.
For more on the Capitals, visit Japers Rink. For more on the rest of the league, visit SB Nation's NHL hub.