Bruce Boudreau had some encouraging news this morning regarding center David Steckel, who has been out since March 8 with a broken finger. He is set to have the pins removed on Monday and could return in time for Thursday's game vs. Tampa Bay in Washington.
Steckel has only five goals and seven assists, but his ability on faceoffs and on the penalty kill has been sorely missed, Boudreau said.
"Because you don't put up great numbers offensively, sometimes you don't realize how much you miss a person in the lineup," Boudreau said. "Dave is a big part of ours. It gives us way more versatility because you can move [Brooks Laich] to left wing and [Boyd Gordon] to right wing. We'll be happy when he gets back."
The news was not so good regarding Chris Clark, who has missed most of the season with a strained groin tendon. He's on the trip and he's practicing. But it would be a surprise if he plays anytime soon. That said, Clark has not given up hope.
"I won't quit until the team isn't playing anymore," Clark said after the morning skate.
Cristobal Huet will start in net tonight against the last-place Lightning. Karri Ramo is set to start for Tampa Bay while newly acquired Lightning goalie Mike Smith will miss the game with a strained left knee. (Marc Denis will back up Ramo.)
The Caps' goalie situation, meantime, remains day-to-day, Boudreau said. But if you read between the lines, it's starting to look like the job is Huet's to lose, with tonight marking his fifth start in six games.
Also, John Erskine is set to return against the Bolts and will replace Steve Eminger on the blue line. Erskine missed six games with a head injury.
Here's the rest of lineup:
Forwards
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Kozlov
Cooke-Fedorov-Semin
Fleischmann-Laich-Fehr
Brashear-Gordon-Bradley
Defense
Morrisonn-Green
Poti-Schultz
Jurcina-Erskine
As for the importance of tonight's game, what more needs to be said? It's pretty much a must-win against a team that has little for which to play. The Caps are two points behind Boston with five games to play. The Bruins are home against Toronto and can eliminate the Maple Leafs.
---Caps Insider
Steckel has only five goals and seven assists, but his ability on faceoffs and on the penalty kill has been sorely missed, Boudreau said.
"Because you don't put up great numbers offensively, sometimes you don't realize how much you miss a person in the lineup," Boudreau said. "Dave is a big part of ours. It gives us way more versatility because you can move [Brooks Laich] to left wing and [Boyd Gordon] to right wing. We'll be happy when he gets back."
The news was not so good regarding Chris Clark, who has missed most of the season with a strained groin tendon. He's on the trip and he's practicing. But it would be a surprise if he plays anytime soon. That said, Clark has not given up hope.
"I won't quit until the team isn't playing anymore," Clark said after the morning skate.
Cristobal Huet will start in net tonight against the last-place Lightning. Karri Ramo is set to start for Tampa Bay while newly acquired Lightning goalie Mike Smith will miss the game with a strained left knee. (Marc Denis will back up Ramo.)
The Caps' goalie situation, meantime, remains day-to-day, Boudreau said. But if you read between the lines, it's starting to look like the job is Huet's to lose, with tonight marking his fifth start in six games.
Also, John Erskine is set to return against the Bolts and will replace Steve Eminger on the blue line. Erskine missed six games with a head injury.
Here's the rest of lineup:
Forwards
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Kozlov
Cooke-Fedorov-Semin
Fleischmann-Laich-Fehr
Brashear-Gordon-Bradley
Defense
Morrisonn-Green
Poti-Schultz
Jurcina-Erskine
As for the importance of tonight's game, what more needs to be said? It's pretty much a must-win against a team that has little for which to play. The Caps are two points behind Boston with five games to play. The Bruins are home against Toronto and can eliminate the Maple Leafs.
---Caps Insider
