The Capitals winger has not played since Dec. 19 as he's dealt with an upper-body injury.
The Washington Capitals got a positive sign on the injury front on Tuesday, as T.J. Oshie has made his way back from Minnesota and returned to D.C.
Oshie took the ice for some work with the group Tuesday and was taking full contact as he continues his recovery from an upper-body injury. He’d gone back to his native Minnesota for treatment to address the ailment.
While it’s a positive sign to see Oshie back on the ice, it remains unclear what his exact timetable is with regard to a return to game action.
The 37-year-old has not played since Dec. 16, when he had a goal in a 3-1 loss to the Nashville Predators. He had been dealing with injury since then, and though he had skated and was making progress, he suffered an apparent setback that sent him across state borders.
Oshie has dealt with numerous injuries over the last year, mainly to his back. He underwent a double ablation last April to address chronic pain and issues, and said afterward that he felt “light years better.” It’s unclear, though, if his issues this year are back-related.
It's good news for the group, as the team is dealing with a myriad of injuries up front. Tom Wilson is day-to-day after hurting his nose in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings, and Sonny Milano remains in a non-contact jersey. Alex Ovechkin also didn't skate due to maintenance.
Washington has not only missed Oshie’s leadership but also his contagious energy. He had points in back-to-back games before going down with injury and adds some needed right-wing depth for the group.