Three days after capping an improbable regular season with a Southeast Division championship, the Washington Capitals returned to practice yesterday morning at Kettler Iceplex. They did so without two of their top six defensemen.
Shaone Morrisonn (shoulder) and Jeff Schultz (undisclosed) didn’t participate in the full-squad practice, and their status remains day-to-day for Friday night’s Eastern Conference quarterfinal opener against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Morrisonn, injured against Carolina on April 1, and Schultz, nicked against Florida during Saturday’s regular season finale, participated in a 30-minute workout led by assistant coach Dean Evason after practice. To add depth to the blue line, the Capitals recalled Sami Lepisto, giving them six healthy defensemen.
Morrisonn called the late start to the series a “relief.”
“The guys wanted to play because we’re playing so well,” he said. “But it gives other guys a chance to rest their injuries and be ready to go at 100 percent.”
Morrisonn increased the intensity of his workout yesterday, and Schultz hopes to skate with the team today.
While not discussing the nature of his injury, Schultz did rule out a concussion.
“We’ll go day by day and get as much treatment as I can and not push it too much on the ice,” he said. “I’ll have to play through a little bit of pain. If the pain is bearable, it could be a game-time decision.”
Lepisto, 23, scored 45 points in 51 games for Hershey this season. The Capitals ended the Florida game with five healthy defenseman: Mike Green, Tom Poti, John Erskine, Steve Eminger and Milan Jurcina. The only way Lepisto plays Friday night is if Morrisonn and Schultz can’t.
“I saw the injuries and I thought there was a possibility they might call somebody up,” Lepisto said. “I’m here for at least a couple of practices to see what’s going on.”
Lepisto appeared in seven games for the Caps during the regular season, recording one assist and averaging more than 13 minutes of ice time.
“The games he’s played here, he’s worked hard and doesn’t give up an inch,” Green said. “He’s always in guys’ faces and he can skate and move the puck.”
Said coach Bruce Boudreau: “He’s a guy that’s one of the better defensemen in the American Hockey League. To me, it’s too early to say whether he’s going to play or not play, but we wanted to make sure he’s acclimated with everything we’re doing again and getting ready to play.”
The Capitals had their first full-squad practice since Saturday’s division-clinching win over Florida. As expected, they appeared semi-sluggish.
“We’ll get better — you could tell we had a couple days off,” Boudreau said. “That’s the luxury of being able to start on Friday. We didn’t have to be great today. We’ll be better tomorrow, better than that on Thursday and hopefully at our peak on Friday.”
This Friday at 2 p.m., Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis will be live chatting at washingtontimes.com, just hours before the Caps take the ice for Game 1 of their Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers. Already have a question? Send it to sports@washingtontimes.com
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