Notes From Practice

One day after getting shutout in Toronto, 3-0, the injury-depleted Caps finally got some good news.

RW Chris Clark (sprained shoulder) is expected to return Friday against Carolina, and C Boyd Gordon (sprained knee) plans to be back in the lineup, too. As a result, Cs Dave Steckel and Alexandre Giroux are no longer needed and have been sent back to Hershey.

No practice tomorrow, but goaltender Olie Kolzig (sprained knee) is going to suit up and take shots (from Clark and Gordon) for the first time since getting hurt last month. Kolzig is aiming to return next week, perhaps in time for next Thursday's game in Boston.

Here were today's forward lines:

Ovechkin-Novotny-Semin
Laich-Gordon-Clark
Fleischmann-Beech-Bradley
Brashear-Sutherby-Clymer