The Washington Capitals will be getting a key cog back in their lineup on Saturday.
After taking part in line rushes during practice this week, Nicklas Backstrom will suit up against the Hurricanes tonight.
Nicklas Backstrom confirms he is in the lineup tonight vs Canes. #CapitalsTalk
— Chuck Gormley (@CharlesAGormley) October 17, 2015
According to CSN Washington, Backstrom skated on Washington’s second line with Justin Williams and Marcus Johansson during the team’s morning skate.
In the end, the 27-year-old will have missed three games because of arthroscopic hip surgery, which isn’t bad considering the team was prepared for him to miss the first 10 games of the season.
With Backstrom returning, it looks like former first round pick Andre Burakovsky will be demoted to the fourth line.
Appears Backstrom will play tonight. Burakovsky goes from 2C to fourth-line wing.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) October 17, 2015
The team may opt to bring Backstrom along slowly, but there’s no doubt that his insertion into the lineup makes the Capitals that much more dangerous.