Both Dowd and Edmundson were present for the optional morning skate and sporting non-contact sweaters.

The Washington Capitals got some encouraging news on Wednesday, as Nic Dowd and Joel Edmundson took the ice and skated with the group that took the optional morning skate at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.

Both were in non-contact jerseys, and though there's still work to be done, it marked the first time both have been incorporated into the group since their injuries, though Dowd had attended a couple of optional morning skates while on the shelf.

Looking at their timelines, head coach Spencer Carbery said that Dowd, who has been out since Oct. 16 with an upper-body injury, could be back as soon as the weekend, while Edmundson, who broke his hand in training camp and has yet to play for Washington this season, has a bit of a longer road.

"Albeit a morning skate, but still another positive step. Nic’s getting there, he’s starting to feel a lot better. Not playing (against the Florida Panthers), but I think him being if it’s not this weekend, maybe Vegas next week," Carbery said. "Joel, potentially a little bit longer. He's missed significant time. the last game action — he didn't play in preseason — was the (training camp) scrimmage he got hurt. That’s a long time ago, so he needs some significant amount of practice reps to get back ready to roll.”

Right now, Washington is carrying 13 forwards, with Michael Sgarbossa being called up with Evgeny Kuznetsov questionable for the game against Florida due to illness. The plan is to carry 13 going into the weekend that features back-to-back games in New Jersey and New York.

On the blue line, Trevor van Riemsdyk is out for Wednesday's tilt, and one of Lucas Johansen and Hardy Häman Aktell will draw in on the right side.

In other injury news, Nicklas Backstrom was officially placed on the long-term injures reserve on Wednesday. He is unlikely to return this season after announcing he is stepping away from hockey indefinitely with his hip not responding to resurfacing surgery. Max Pacioretty, who is also on the LTIR, is responding well and progressing as he skates on his own, but the road is still long for him as well.