- Katie Carrera of the Washington Post: Capitals defenseman Mike Green has missed 18 of their last 20 games with a concussion. He hasn’t taken part in a full practice in about a month. He has been doing some off-ice workouts and is feeling better.
“In a perfect world, we’d like to get him back for the last couple games,” Boudreau said. “I think this week will indicate this — by Monday, we’ll know whether we’ll be able to or not.
“We want him in at least three practices, good practices, before we ever put him in a game — minimum,” Boudreau said. “Quite frankly, I play him when Greg Smith says he’s OK to play. I’ll be the first one to put him in.”
- Katie Carrera of the Washington Post: Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said this week that there is a chance they will use both Michal Neuvirth and Semyon Varlamov during the playoffs.
“I think if you look at the way the season and their careers have gone, that neither one has played 20 games in a row , you’re probably looking more at winning by committee than anything else,” Boudreau said. “If one gets extremely hot, you’re not going to take him out of the lineup. But in our situation here, we’ve seen, I think, in a row the maximum that either one has played all year.”
- Brad Zeimer of the Vancouver Canucks: Canucks defenseman Christian Ehrhoff is having an excellent season and he’ll be a UFA at seasons end. He’s currently making $3.1 million and will be looking for a raise. On the open market he’d likely could get $5 million deal, which could be out of the Canucks price range. If he’ll take closer to the $4.5 million they are giving to Dan Hamhuis, he could stay. His wife and daughter love Vancouver.
- Chris Boden of CSNChicago: The Blackhawks have begun talking RFA goalie Cory Crawford about a contract extension.
“We’ve reached out and we’re gonna try to do something here,” Bowman said in the United Center’s Harris Club. “The timing is delicate and you don’t want it to become a distraction but we certainly have an interest in trying to get something done. I think he’s performed very well for us this year. Looking back from where he’s come – not only having a foothold in the NHL at the beginning, when he started a handful of games, but watching his progression as he’s gotten more responsibility, he’s risen to the challenge. That’s what you look for in goaltenders. When they get the increased workload, can they handle it? He’s kind of unflappable and doesn’t get rattled by much. I think that’s a strength of his. He’s obviously talented. He’s got the physical capabilities, but the mental side is important as well, and he’s been rock-solid for us.”
- Eric Stephens of the OC Register: Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller was back in net last night for the first time since the middle of February. It didn’t last 12 minutes, 3 goals on 9 shots, but at least his bouts with vertigo weren’t the reason he was pulled from the game.
- Allen Panzeri of the Ottawa Citizen: Waiver pickup Curtis McElhinny is enjoying his time in Ottawa, and wouldn’t mind returning next season. “Right now there’s a tremendous opportunity here,” he said. “They’ve signed (Craig Anderson) for the next four years, but I still think there’s a spot for me, too.”