Reinforcements are on the way for the reeling Washington Capitals, who saw the return of forward Evgeny Kuznetsov and Ilya Samsonov to practice on Monday.
The pair is the last of Washington's four Russians to return from the NHL's COVID-related absences list. Alex Ovechkin, Dmitry Orlov, Kuznetsov and Samsonov were all placed in COVID protocols on Jan. 20 after violating the league's safety protocols, when they were caught hanging out in a hotel room together without masks. Ovechkin was the first to return – on Jan. 30 – after missing four games, and Orlov returned to the ice last Monday.
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Both Kuznetsov and Samsonov confirmed to reporters on Monday they experienced symptoms from the coronavirus while away from the team.
Defenseman Justin Schultz also returned to practice on Monday. He's been out since Jan. 28, when he was struck in the face with a puck in a game against the Islanders.
With the roster in a constant state of flux, it's unclear who will be available for Tuesday's game against the Flyers, but Caps coach Peter Laviolette has not ruled anyone out in advance. The Caps could use all the help they can get after dropping three straight games — to the Bruins, Rangers and Flyers — in regulation.
Jakub Vrana and TJ Oshie both missed Sunday's game against the Flyers, with Vrana being added to the NHL's COVID-related absences list and Oshie listed with an upper body injury. Laviolette says all of the team's missing players, Vrana and Oshie included, are day-to-day.