Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom is looking forward to returning to action in a Game 5 against the Washington Capitals in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final.
Backstrom had surgery in November on a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
He had been sidelined since Oct. 23 with a back injury.
The Capitals have been without Backstrom since Dec. 2 with a concussion.
Backlund is the first Capitals player to miss a Game 6 since Mike Green scored two goals in Game 5 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final.
He is the second defenseman in franchise history to miss Games 5 and 6 since Backstrom’s return.
Backstrons center, Erik Karlsson, had surgery Nov. 17 to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.
He missed six games with the injury and is scheduled to have a procedure on his right ankle this week.
The last time a defenseman missed a Game 7 was when Eric Staal played in the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals with a knee injury.
The Capitals have won six straight against the Capitals, the longest active streak in the NHL.
On Sunday, the Capitals will be facing the Washington Senators in the Eastern Semifinals.