Oshie Reflects On Latest Injury, Return To Minnesota For Treatment & Mentality In Recovery; Captials Winger Ready To Return

The Capitals winger has not played since Dec. 16.

ARLINGTON, V.A. – T.J. Oshie was warming up for a Sunday showdown with the Carolina Hurricanes on Dec. 17 when he felt something tweak. To his surprise, as well as the Washington Capitals', it was another injury. And this time, it would hold him out for three weeks.

"It was just kind of during warmups, so it's unfortunate. I was a shock to everyone, myself included," Oshie, who is expected to return from that upper-body ailment on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken, said.

It was difficult for Oshie, who had started to get on the scoresheet following a return from a concussion he suffered near Thanksgiving and now had to sit out and deal with a holiday break to boot. He didn't let that take a toll, though, as he remained resilient and confident in his recovery.

"Just being mature about it. I don't think getting frustrated out here helps anybody. It doesn't help you heal from injury; it doesn't help your teammates trying to get ready and fill your spot," Oshie said. "So no frustration. I'm a very present person. So when injuries or losses or maybe bad play happens, you wake up the next day and go back to work. You'd like not to have those bad things happen, but they're kind of inevitable at some point."

Oshie also had to return home to Minnesota for treatment, but he said that was nothing out of the ordinary or anything that would require a further setback.

"I mean, I've done it 5 or 6 times here in the last two years. It's nothing different. It's just this time you guys find out about it," he quipped.

Oshie is healthy now and expected back for the Capitals on Thursday as they take on the Seattle Kraken, and he's excited to pick up where he left off while helping his team continue to rack up points and remain in the thick of the playoff race.

"It's nice to be on the mend, nice to be back with the fellas. The timing of these kinda couple injuries I've had has been kind of rough, with the Christmas break getting in the way and with the concussion, the guys being out west, I didn't really have anyone to skate with. So it's nice to be back."