A month and three days ago, the Washington Capitals lost one of their best players when Mikhail Grabovski injured his ankle after being taken down from behind by New Jersey Devils defenseman Bryce Salvador.
It was a long rehab for Grabo. After missing 8 games, the Belarusian center returned in the Caps’ first game back after the Olympics. His first shift was basically a disaster.
After forechecking in the Florida Panthers zone, Grabo lost the puck to a back-checking Nick Bjugstad. The six-foot, six-inch forward fell on top of Grabo. Like right on that same bad ankle.
Grabo gingerly skated off the ice and looked in pain on the bench. He returned for his next shift, but then went to the locker room shortly thereafter.
The Capitals announced near the end of the period that he was questionable to return:
#Caps Grabovski sustained a lower body injury and his return to tonight's game is questionable.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 28, 2014
So… not the best start.
