For forward Eric Fehr, ‘a world of difference’ since injury

He was one white sweater among the seven Washington Capitals forwards who participated in Tuesday afternoon’s optional skate, a light workout with the assistant coaches to stay fresh, but simply being beside his teammates again meant something more to Eric Fehr. Sixteen days had passed since he left during the first period of Game 3 against the New York Islanders, checked in his left shoulder by Kyle Okposo and subsequently crunched into the boards against his right. The team listed him with an upper-body injury. He has not played since.

Fehr finished his shift after slowly rising to his feet but soon left the ice. He spent the next two weeks rehabilitating with team trainers and,…