UNIONDALE, N.Y. – First on the ice Saturday afternoon, goaltender Braden Holtby and goaltending coach Mitch Korn worked together for roughly five minutes before anyone else emerged at Nassau Coliseum. With short whistle blasts, Korn drilled Holtby through quick cuts, pushing up and back and around the crease. Soon, forward Jason Chimera joined them for shooting work, and eventually Holtby finished the 25-minute practice without issue.
Four days had passed since Holtby last skated, sidelined by a nasty stomach flu that left him unable to join the Washington Capitals for their Game 2 win over the New York Islanders.