Washington Capitals star Nicklas Backstrom is expected to make his season debut Wednesday night versus the Chicago Blackhawks after being activated from the injured non-roster list, the team announced.
Backstrom has been recovering from an offseason hip injury, beginning the 2021-22 campaign on long-term injured reserve.
The 34-year-old is likely to center the Capitals' top line, as Evgeny Kuznetsov is unavailable Wednesday due to COVID-19 protocol.
Backstrom notched 53 points in 55 games last season. Washington has fared well without the veteran playmaker, sitting atop the Metropolitan Division through 28 contests.
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