Capitals Injury Report: Edmundson, Mantha & TVR 'Real Close,' New Fehervary Timetable, Kuemper Update

The Washington Capitals' quest to return to full strength could be expedited, as the team could be getting some key names back in the mix sooner than previously thought.

Head coach Spencer Carbery gave positive updates on the Joel Edmundson, Anthony Mantha and Trevor van Riemsdyk front after Tuesday's optional morning skate, indicating that while they're out vs. the Vegas Golden Knights, they could be back as soon as the weekend.

"Ramping up... all three are real close, real close," Carbery said. "We play tonight and then have a little bit of time there. They're right there of potentially playing next game.

Edmundson and van Riemsdyk were on the ice for the team's optional morning skate on Tuesday and out of their non-contact jerseys. Both had been non-contact just 24 hours earlier, having skated with the group for the entirety of practice on Monday. It marked the first time that Edmundson skated with the team since breaking his hand in training camp.

Carbery had indicated that Edmundson would be a "bit longer" with regard to his timetable, with him needing more reps to get comfortable and back in full game mode. However, that didn't seem to be the case anymore on Tuesday.

Though van Riemsdyk and Edmundson are making progress, Martin Fehervary is still a bit further out. The 23-year-old suffered a lower-body injury in Friday's win over the New Jersey Devils and has not skated since, though he's been around. Fehervary will miss Tuesday's game against the Golden Knights and "unlikely" for Saturday's tilt with the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, Carbery doesn't believe it's long-term.

"I don't think this is a multiple-week thing," Fehervary said. "I think it'll be more unlikely for the weekend and more looking [beyond that]."

Up front, Washington got encouraging news on Mantha, who has been recovering from an upper-body injury after being struck in the head by a puck.

A day after getting some work in ahead of Capitals practice in a non-contact jersey, Mantha skated again in a powder blue sweater and stayed on for the entirety of the optional skate and the scratches skate that followed. He, like his fellow blueliners in Edmundson and TVR, is zeroing in on his return.

In goal, Washington is back to two goaltenders — or so it seems. Darcy Kuemper will dress on Tuesday, but he will back up Charlie Lindgren, who gets the start in goal against Vegas. Kuemper missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury, which opened the door for another Lindgren start and a game for Hunter Shepard to boot. Regardless of the ailment, though, Carbery noted that Lindgren's strong play could be enough to get him more starts between the pipes.

Beyond all of that, Max Pacioretty continues to work on their own, skating individually as he works back from his second torn Achilles in a span of five months. Also on the long-term injured reserve but not likely to play again this season, Nicklas Backstrom was around the facility on Monday.

The Capitals host Vegas at 7 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena.