from Isabelle Khurshudyan of Capitals Insider,

Expectations have to be kept realistic and rust is expected, but after being out for more than three months with a lower-body bone injury, defenseman Brooks Orpik will be back in the lineup for the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night when they play the Los Angeles Kings.

“It’s probably not going to be perfect, so you try to minimize the chances you take, which I think I normally do anyways,” Orpik said. “Hopefully, that doesn’t affect me too much.”

Capitals Coach Barry Trotz has said it was up to Orpik to decide he was ready, and Orpik said Tuesday’s game was one the team was privately targeting. He’ll play on the third defensive pairing with Dmitry Orlov. Orpik has been on long-term injured reserve, but the Capitals will be able to immediately activate him without any corresponding roster moves.

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