It’s been a tough couple of months for the Washington Capitals as they have dealt with injuries and inconsistent play. This has caused the team to fall out of playoff contention as they sit sixth in the Eastern Conference Wild Card race. The Capitals haven’t been the same since losing their top defenseman on December 23rd against the Winnipeg Jets. Carlson took a slap shot to the face and has been out since the Caps placed him on long-term injured reserve. It seems he is nearing a return but still has a ways to go before he is fully cleared. While there is no set date, the star defenseman will be evaluated this week and has skated several times since the injury. One good sign is that Carlson joined the team on their current four-game road trip. In his absence, the Capitals have gone 10-14-2 and struggled to find consistent play.
“It’s a great sign that Carlson is back because this team just hasn’t been be the same without him,” NBC Sports Washington’s Alan May said. “He is so important to this team. I think it shows a lot of people… how valuable his 27 minutes he plays a game… is usually in the positive.”
NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti reported that Carlson was “a ways away from returning.”
While the official word for their return has not come to light, it is certainly a promising sign that Carlson has joined the team on the road trip. It will be a wait-and-see situation for the defenseman as the road trip’s final game is set for March 6th against the Los Angeles Kings. Hopefully, by the time Carlson rejoins the team, it won’t be too late for the Caps to make a late playoff push.
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