Here's the latest on the Capitals injury situation as the team prepares to take things on the road.
The Washington Capitals held a very optional skate on Thursday, with only eight players attending to get some work in following the 4-3 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers. There, though, the team got some encouraging signs, especially with the team taking things on the road for a back-to-back series in New Jersey and New York.
Hardy Häman Aktell, Lucas Johansen, Alex Alexeyev, Michael Sgarbossa, Matthew Phillips, Beck Malenstyn, Joel Edmundson and Nic Dowd were the attendees for Thursday's optional skate.
No one, with the exception of Trevor van Riemsdyk prior to the skate per Monumental Sports Network's Tarik El-Bashir, was in a non-contact jersey. However, given the optional aspect of the practice, it's unclear if this indicates a full upgrade to contact for Dowd or Edmundson.
While each player is making progress, Dowd is the only one who may be going on the road trip. Edmundson, van Riemsdyk and Anthony Mantha, who did not practice and is day-to-day after being struck in the head by a puck in Wednesday's loss, will not travel on the road trip, the team told reporters.
With van Riemsdyk out, Nick Jensen has moved up to the second pairing to operate alongside Rasmus Sandin, while Alex Alexeyev is working with Hardy Häman Aktell and Lucas Johansen. Häman Aktell got a jersey for Wednesday's game, but it is unclear if he will remain in the mix or if Johansen will draw in this weekend.
If Dowd cannot dress this weekend, Washington has another forward option, as Michael Sgarbossa was called up on Wednesday in the wake of Evgeny Kuznetsov's illness but was scratched with No. 92 good to go. Sgarbossa will remain up with the team through this weekend's road swing as the team awaits word on Mantha.
The Capitals kick off their two-game road swing with a Friday meeting with the New Jersey Devils before facing the New York Islanders on Saturday.