Left thumb surgery put Andre Burakovsky in a familiar, if undesirable place in late October. When his teammates were on the road, Burakovsky was alone with a trainer, sweating away while the problem healed, just like last season when he had a right hand injury.
His recent rehabilitation days were intense, since the thumb injury allowed his legs and lungs to be worked with vigor. Capitals strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish tired Burakovsky so much that the 22 year old was asleep at 9 p.m. at times.
“That’s how hard it is,” Burakovsky said Thursday.
Starting Friday, he will be free of that specific cardiovascular torture.