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Laich: ‘I feel great physically’

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

Signed through 2016-17 with a cap hit of $4.5 million, the health and production of Capitals forward Brooks Laich have been a significant concern this season in Washington.

While the 30-year-old has just five goals and three assists in the 33 games that injuries have allowed him to play, there’s reason to believe better times are ahead.

“I feel a lot more relaxed now,” Laich said, per CSN Washington. “At the start of the season I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. I felt healthy, but I wasn’t sure if I could make it through five games and then have this thing flare up.

“Now that we’ve found the source of the problem -- that it was coming from inflammation from a nerve in my spine -- I’m a lot more relaxed and at ease because we know that if the pain creeps back how to address it and cut it off quickly.”

Here’s what Laich’s injury log looks like since the beginning of 2013:

Laich injury log

You’ll note the prevalence of the word “groin.”

Laich had a goal in Wednesday’s 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh, and he’s hoping for more in the second half of the season.

“I feel great physically,” he said. “Now I just want to produce.”