The Capitals got back to work with a Friday practice before a home-and-home series with the Rangers this weekend.
The Washington Capitals took the ice for practice on Friday without two familiar faces, as Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson took maintenance days while Tom Wilson returned after missing Thursday's game against the Seattle Kraken due to a broken nose.
Ovechkin has now taken three maintenance days and missed one practice in a span of six days as he continues to work through some injury issues. He was "nicked up" this past weekend and appeared to be hurt after colliding with Jordan Staal in a 6-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 5.
Despite being a game-time decision on both Sunday and Thursday, Ovechkin ended up playing in both games, picking up assists to extend his point streak to six games. It is unclear what his status is for the weekend at this time.
Carlson led all skaters in ice time with 24:52 minutes played against the Kraken in a 4-1 loss, so the maintenance day allows him to get some needed rest ahead of a back-to-back series with the New York Rangers this weekend.
On a more positive note, Wilson was back on the ice and skating in a full shield. His return likely indicates that he will be good to go and back in the lineup, but he will likely remain in a fishbowl until his nose heals.
Wilson broke his nose on Sunday near the end of a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings after taking the butt-end of Alex Laferriere's stick to the face. He left the ice shortly but returned to finish the game and was at practice on Wednesday. He did not take part in Thursday's optional morning skate or the Tuesday practice beforehand.
Washington will host the Rangers at 1 p.m. on Saturday before heading up to New York for a Sunday rematch at 1 p.m. in a home-and-home set.