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The 23-year-old forward sustained an upper-body injury in Game 2 of the first round on a check by Columbus Blue Jackets forward Boone Jenner late in the first period. Burakovsky missed the rest of the series after having a minor surgical procedure, but Capitals coach Barry Trotz said he is expected to resume skating on his own soon.
"That's going to happen very quickly," Trotz said Wednesday. "[Burakovsky is] week to week, depending how long the [Pittsburgh] series goes."
Burakovsky missed 20 games during the regular season with a broken thumb but had six points (three goals, three assists) in his final eight games to finish with 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists). He had three shots on goal against Columbus in Game 1 and played 2:12 in Game 2.
Buravosky was the second-line left wing alongside center Nicklas Backstrom and right wing T.J. Oshie. Rookie Chandler Stephenson moved to Burakovsky's spot in Game 4 against the Blue Jackets and had a goal and three assists in the last three games of the series, including a shorthanded goal in the third period of Game 6.
Rookie Jakub Vrana also saw time in Burakovsky's place but was supplanted by Stephenson after Game 3.
"Chandler has been great," Backstrom said. "He's such a smart player and obviously fast too. Feel like he's raised his game. He's competing hard. Just great for me and [Oshie] to have a speedy guy on the line."
Oshie did not in practice Wednesday but will be in the lineup for Game 1 against Pittsburgh. He has dealt with a lower-body injury since a game against the Carolina Hurricanes on March 30. He missed two of Washington's final four regular-season games and has not participated in a morning skate or practice during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
However, Oshie has remained productive. He scored three power-play goals and had an assist in the six-game win against the Blue Jackets.
"[Oshie is] fine," Trotz said. "We're just doing what we need. We're telling players that if you need some time, take it off. But if you're ready to play and ready to go, then you're in."
