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Laich says he’s in for Caps season opener vs. Chicago

Jets Capitals Hockey

Washington Capitals’ Brooks Laich (21) celebrates his goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Friday, March 22, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, John Woods)

AP

Brooks Laich’s troublesome hip flexor won’t keep him out of the lineup for Tuesday.

“I’m in,” Laich told the Washington Post. “Oct. 1 was the date that I had circled to be ready for. I would like to have had a couple more exhibition games but I felt great out there today and I’m in as far as I know.

“It’s their call, but 100 percent, I feel great and I’m ready to go.”

The past calendar year hasn’t been a good one for Laich’s health. The 30-year-old missed almost all of last season with a nagging groin injury and was hurt again to start training camp when he tweaked his hip.

The injury has sidelined Laich for much of camp -- he’s practiced sporadically and only played one exhibition game -- but that wasn’t enough to prevent him from going up against the defending champs on opening night.

The Post’s Katie Carrera said it’s expected Laich will open Tuesday night’s game as a left winger on a line with center Mikhail Grabovski who, ironically enough, was signed partly as an insurance clause at center should the oft-injured Laich be unable to play.