Caps' Oshie Eyeing Return

Already riding a 10-3-0 streak since Nov. 13, the Capitals may get a boost before the turn of the new year. T.J. Oshie returned to full-team practice Monday, clad in a red jersey, signaling that he's been cleared for contact.

The Capitals forward, who's missed the last 11 games with an upper-body injury, had incorporated more solo work in his rehab routine the past few days. But now the cones have been replaced with players. Oshie joked that it felt like there were too many men on the ice at times during his first team practice back.

"Not a lot of space compared to when I'm just by myself out there," Oshie said, adding that it still felt good to ditch the soft blue practice pinnie. "But I feel pretty good."
Oshie said he's hoping he'll be cleared to play Tuesday against the Red Wings, adding that he trusts the medical staff that will ultimately make the call. Head coach Todd Reirden, also waiting for medical clearance, left the possibility open that Oshie could play as early as Tuesday.
Before his injury, Oshie scored nine goals and added five assists in his first 18 games. He was especially effective on the power play, where he had three points (1g, 2a) in his trademark diamond spot alongside Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. He was reunited with the unit Monday, a promising sign by all indications.

"He's a special player in all aspects of the game, but certainly on the power play for us," Reirden said. "In that diamond spot he does a really good job on the entries in terms of controlled entries. When we do have to dump pucks in, he's great on recoveries.
"His work ethic and instincts to be able to win puck battles - I just think it increases our whole intensity of how our power play recovers pucks … He would be a welcome addition not only to our power play but to our whole team. He's such an important part of our locker room."
While Oshie said the recovery process and the distance from the team was tough, he at least knew what to expect and is familiar with the training staff. He also got to spend Thanksgiving with his family.
"I feel like each time gets more and more frustrating, but I stuck with it, got some good workouts and skates in with [Mark Nemish] and Brooks," Oshie said of the Capitals strength and conditioning coach and Brooks Orpik, who had surgery on his knee in November and is still recovering. "I had some company.
"I have a lot of support from the guys, asking me, texting me, just seeing how I'm doing," Oshie said. "Those things get you through. Plus, the holidays with the family in town, getting to spend some time with my girls and wife at home. It was a good little break."
But he's anxious to come back. Oshie knows the game will move a little fast for him at first, a common adjustment for a player returning from injury, but said that the concussion won't change the way he plays.

"When I go out there, if I get concerned about what's going to happen to me, I'm not going to play at the top of my game," Oshie said. "It doesn't concern me - I just roll with the punches every day."
His teammates are looking forward to his return too.
"We miss him a lot," Alex Ovechkin said of Oshie. "Obviously he's a leader, a key guy. But different guys took a step forward [the past few weeks]. Just in case something happened [to premiere players], we knew we could play well."
To Ovechkin's point, Oshie said he's proud of the way the Capitals have battled over the last three weeks; they're 9-2-0 so far without him. And watching them win, he said, took some of the sting away from missing time. He just hopes he'll be able to adjust to game-speed quickly and help them continue this run.
"On TV it looks like we're getting the resilience back in our game," Oshie said. "Whether it's penalties, or maybe not playing our sharpest at times, the fellas are finding a way to get the job done.
"When you're on the outside looking in, and they're doing well, it makes it a little easier than if the team's struggling. Hopefully if I'm in tomorrow - or whenever I get back in - I can jump on their backs and follow."