The Capitals got some key injury updates after practice.

The Washington Capitals have been missing two key pieces of their lineup with Rasmus Sandin and Sonny Milano nursing upper-body injuries, but they could get one of them back as soon as Tuesday.

Per head coach Spencer Carbery, Sandin is close to making a return from an upper-body injury that has held him out the last six games, and he could be back in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Minnesota Wild, which would provide a major boost on the backend.

The Swede recently upgraded to contact for Washington after spending some time in a non-contact jersey, and on Monday, he was taking part in special teams reps. He missed two games prior to his injury with an illness.

"There's a chance (he comes back against Minnesota). We'll see how he does tomorrow and go from there, whether we activate him or have to hold off," Carbery told reporters after Monday's practice.

In order to activate Sandin, Washington would have to make a corresponding roster move, which would likely involve returning Hendrix Lapierre to Hershey, given he is waiver-exempt.

As for Milano, who has sat out the last 20 games after suffering an upper-body injury on Dec. 9 against the New York Rangers, he is not travelling on this four-game road swing and stayed behind in D.C., indicating that he will not play before the All-Star Break. Per Carbery, there are no setbacks, but the recovery hasn't gone as quickly as the team had hoped.

"It just hasn't progressed along as quickly," Carbery said. "But that's what those injuries (are) like); sometimes it takes a little bit longer."