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- The 2017 postseason kicks off for the Capitals this Thursday, and they’re feeling very well prepared for the rigors and style of playoff hockey this spring:
The Capitals feel better about how they're entering the playoffs than they did a year ago https://t.co/b2mGD1DKWE
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) April 11, 2017
2. Part of playoff success is staying healthy, so there was cautiously optimistic news out at Kettler today on the injury front:
#Caps John Carlson is on the ice for practice today. Missed last four games of season with lower-body injury. #CapsLeafs
— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) April 11, 2017
Trotz initially said "we'll see" on Carlson's availability. Then added that he's "probably a go" for Game 1.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) April 11, 2017
3. Not so much on the Toronto side of things, as the Maple Leafs are suddenly dealing with a battered blueline:
No sign of Nikita Zaitsev, Roman Polak or Tyler Bozak as Mike Babcock blows his whistle to start #leafs practice. Frederik Andersen returns.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 11, 2017
Toronto, like the Caps, has had relatively good luck in the injury department over the course of the season... that is until both Nikita Zaitsev and Roman Polak were injured in their final regular-season outing against Columbus. That’s left a few holes in their defense, which now looks something like this...
Leafs D at practice
— David Alter (@dalter) April 11, 2017
Rielly-Marchenko
Gardiner-Carrick
Hunwick-Marincin
Extra: Josh Leivo
...and makes this news particularly good for Leafs fans:
Freddie Andersen in his net pic.twitter.com/BJP4vbhqwF
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) April 11, 2017
Frederik Andersen said he's hopeful he'll be able to play in Game 1
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) April 11, 2017