Here are all the updates from the Capitals' optional skate on Friday, which offered some positive news.
The Washington Capitals got some positive news at Friday's optional skate, as they saw Max Pacioretty continue to ramp up while seeing Evgeny Kuznetsov take the ice for a spin after missing Thursday's game due to illness.
Pacioretty was engaged during the optional skate as he started to get more involved in contact and battles. Though he hasn't been fully cleared yet, it was a step in the right direction as he continues to recover from his second torn Achilles.
"He's getting there. He's starting to take some contact, do some 1-on-1s, some small-area battles and bumping up against the wall and up against opposition," head coach Spencer Carbery told reporters on Friday. "He continues to progress. We're getting closer and closer."
The timetable on Pacioreetty is 2-3 weeks, and though he's not expected to play before the holiday break, there is optimism that it won't be long after that until he makes his season debut.
Meanwhile, Kuznetsov skated at the optional after missing the 4-3 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. It marks the fourth game he missed this season and the third due to illness.
Carbery said that it was a positive step forward for No. 92, but noted that he remains questionable for Saturday's game against the Nashville Predators.
"Feeling better but still not 100 percent, so we'll see for tomorrow," Carbery added. "But a good sign for him to get back on the ice this morning."
Washington has another back-to-back on the horizon this weekend. The team will hold a morning skate on Saturday before taking on Nashville and then head to Raleigh for a Sunday showdown with the Carolina Hurricanes.