Tom Wilson Game-Time Decision, Backstrom & Oshie Back For Capitals

ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals got some good news and got some names back in the mix at morning skate, but they are still waiting for more on Tom Wilson as they prepare to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.

Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie were on the ice and taking rushes, and they appear to be set to return to the lineup. Backstrom missed Tuesday's game with a non-COVID illness, and Oshie was out after leaving the road trip early to be with his wife, Lauren, for the birth of his fourth child, Lucy.

Here were the combinations:

Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-T.J. Oshie

Anthony Mantha-Evgeny Kuznetsov-Conor Sheary

Sonny Milano-Nicklas Backstrom-Marcus Johansson

Nicolas Aube-Kubel-Lars Eller-Garnet Hathaway

Erik Gustafsson-Trevor van Riemsdyk

Dmitry Orlov-Nick Jensen

Matt Irwin-Martin Fehervary

Wilson was not in the mix at morning skate, but he is a game-time decision, per head coach Peter Laviolette. He had left Tuesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche after sacrificing the body and blocking a Brad Hunt slapshot from close range. He went down in visible pain and was limping before getting up and gliding to the bench, where he then went down the tunnel. Wilson did not return to that game.

It was a scary moment for the 28-year-old, who had been eight games into his return from offseason ACL surgery. He had spent eight months rehabilitating his left knee and had three points (two goals, one assist) in his last four games going into Tuesday's matchup.