WASHINGTON (AP) Nicklas Backstrom returned to the Capitals’ lineup for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
He missed Washington’s past four games with a right hand injury. The return is a significant boost for Washington, which went up 2-0 in the series before dropping Game 3 and for the first time looking like his absence was having an effect.
”He’s the backbone of our team,” goaltender Braden Holtby said. ”It’s always nice to have Nick in the lineup. He’s a one-of-a-kind player.”
Coach Barry Trotz called Backstrom a game-time decision Thursday morning. Backstrom was medically cleared to play later in the day.
Fans cheered Backstrom when shown on arena video screens during pregame warmups after he took rushes on the third line with Chandler Stephenson and Brett Connolly. Minutes earlier, the team tweeted: ”Guess who’s back?” with a GIF of Backstrom.
”He wants to be part of the success, and he’s our best center,” captain Alex Ovechkin said. ”He’s our leader. We all love him.”
The 30-year-old Swedish center hasn’t played since taking a slap shot from Pittsburgh’s Justin Schultz on May 5.
Before being injured, Backstrom was one of Washington’s top players in the postseason with 13 points in 11 games. He replaces Alex Chiasson with Andre Burakovsky getting bumped down to the fourth line.
”They just keep getting deeper,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. ”He’s a fabulous player. Just another guy that’s a puck possessor, sees the ice. Just got to be aware when he’s on the ice.”
Backstrom is the Capitals’ second-longest-tenured player behind Ovechkin, and they’re in the conference finals for the first time in their 10th playoff appearance.
”He’s definitely a core part of this team, a tremendous leader, a guy you look up to and a guy you follow into battle,” winger Tom Wilson said.
Even not at 100 percent, Backstrom gives Washington another threat on the power play, which has so far been a deciding factor in the series. The Capitals went 2 for 7 in the first two games, while the Lightning scored twice on the power play in Game 3.
”Obviously (he has) got great hands and makes some nice plays,” Lightning defenseman and fellow Swede Victor Hedman said. ”He can pass the puck and he’s been here for a long time and he’s a world-class player.”
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Follow Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno
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More NHL hockey: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey
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