Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

With Backstrom out for Game 4, Mike Knuble gets a shot to prove himself

Nashville Predators v Washington Capitals

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 20: Mike Knuble #22 of the Washington Capitals reacts after a play against the Nashville Predators during the first period at Verizon Center on December 20, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Getty Images

It’s been a tough season for Washington’s Mike Knuble. The veteran forward was a savvy acquisition when he arrived with the Capitals, viewed to be a guy that could help both on the ice and in the locker room. This season, however, he’s been more of a press box cheerleader than a player.

With the Caps down 2-1 in their series with Boston and now going without Nicklas Backstrom in Game 4 thanks to a suspension, CSNWashington.com’s Chuck Gormley reports that Knuble will get a shot to prove he can be a playoff contributor once again.

Knuble, a healthy scratch in each of the Capitals’ three playoff games, along with the final game of the regular season, practiced on the left wing on a fourth line with center Keith Aucoin and right wing Joel Ward.

Being on the fourth line means not seeing too many minutes, but for Knuble going against one of his former teams in the postseason means getting an extra dose of motivation. If Knuble can inspire the Caps to do as he does and crash the net looking for rebounds, Washington just might be able to tie this series up heading back to Boston.