Injured Capitals defenseman John Carlson won’t be with the team when it begins a three-game road trip in Pittsburgh Sunday night, but he’s inching closer to returning to game action.
Carlson, who has missed the past 11 games after undergoing an undisclosed procedure for a lingering lower-body injury, took part in a full practice Saturday morning at Kettler Capitals Iceplex and Coach Barry Trotz said afterward he expects the 26-year-old blue-liner to be back in the lineup in time for Friday’s game at New Jersey.
“We don’t think he’s quite ready in conditioning. He’s probably right there, but we just want to make sure the conditioning element is taken care of,” Trotz said.