Carolina Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov may be close to returning after having missed the team's last six games with an upper-body injury.
Svechnikov, who has been practicing with the team since they returned from their six-game road trip earlier last week, was a full participant Monday morning, skating on a line with Jack Drury and Teuvo Teravainen.
The Russian winger was also taking reps with PP1 alongside Brent Burns, Michael Bunting, Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis.
When asked if could be a game-time decision for tomorrow, Svechnikov seemed optimistic.
"I think so. Felt good today and hopefully I will feel the same tomorrow."
Svechnikov also revealed that his absence was due to an injury he received on Dec. 4 against the Winnipeg Jets when Logan Stanley cross-checked him hard in the mid-section.
"Just happens sometimes," Svechnikov said.
It's been a tough season for the 23-year-old who's played in just over half the season so far between missing the start of the year due to additional time needed to recover from his ACL surgery in March, illness and now this most recent injury.
But Svechnikov isn't letting this streak of bad luck affect his mood.
"I'm not [frustrated] at all," Svechnikov said. "There's nothing to be frustrated with. I'm just starting and I just have to find my game. That's about it."
When he's played, Svechnikov has been a force on the ice. He has just one goal on the season, but he's driven play and has 11 points in 16 games.
But according to the forward, he still hasn't quite reached his expected level of play yet and that's mostly due to him still getting his ACL up to speed.
"You notice still the little differences in the leg." Svechnikov said. "It's all about the time. I feel like I need some time to get a full, full recovery. It's already good, to be honest. These one or two weeks I didn't play, it got better. It's all good. I don't even think about it when I'm playing. That's just my mentality, but I know I still need to get it stronger a little more and that's what I'm working on."
So while he may be a game-time decision for tomorrow, even if he doesn't play, it looks and sounds like he's just around the corner and perhaps nobody is more antsy than 'Svech' for him to get back.
"Whenever I feel like I can help the team, then I'm going to go and play," Svechnikov said. "I'm getting closer and like I said, we'll see tomorrow. I want to help my team. There's been a lot of time missing games and I don't really like that because I want to play and show my best and help my team to win the games."
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