Barring any setback, defenseman John Carlson should be ready to play Game 1 Thursday night for the Capitals.
Carlson missed the last three games of the regular season with a lower-body injury but returned to practice Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday, he skated in the top defensive pair with Karl Alzner, an indication that he would likely be ready to play.
“I’m just doing everything I possibly can to get better, get stronger. But, yeah, I feel good,” Alzner said.
Coach Barry Trotz said the team would still have to wait and see, but that Carlson would “probably” be good to go along with Brett Connolly, who missed the final two regular-season games with an illness but has practiced in his usual spot on the third line this week.