Laich has missed the last 11 games after suffering a groin injury in last November. He has four goals and two assists in 25 games. Laich will skate on the fourth line.

Laich will miss his sixth consecutive game tonight and not participating in skates suggests that he is not getting any closer to a return. He had four goals and two assists in 25 games.

Laich will miss his third straight game on Tuesday. Jay Beagle will remain in the lineup after two strong games in Laich's absence. Consider him day-to-day, as the injury is not believed to be all that serious.

Laich reportedly is dealing with lower-body tightness, so he gives way to Jay Beagle this afternoon. Consider Laich day-to-day.

The Capitals said that Laich is being cautious with his lower-body injury and decided to take the morning off. It sounds like Laich will will be a game-time decision tonight. He has struggled this season, posting just three goals and two assists with a minus-10 rating in 24 games.

"I'm in," Laich told reporters at Kettler Capitals Iceplex Monday. "Oct. 1 was the date that I had circled to be ready for. I would like to have had a couple more [preseason] games, but I felt great out there [Monday] and I'm in as far as I know. It's their call, but 100 percent, I feel great and I'm ready to go." Laich will likely be the second-line left wing alongside Mikhail Grabovski and Troy Brouwer.

Laich made his preseason debut last night after missing the start of training camp with the hip flexor injury. This could just be a precautionary measure to make sure that Laich will be healthy for the Caps season opener on October 1st.

Laich had a "flare-up" of a strained hip flexor suffered a few weeks ago on his first day in Washington training camp.

Laich, one of the Capitals' locker room leaders, was anxious for the start of camp after playing only nine games last year. Laich's status is day-to-day. Neither general manager George McPhee nor coach Adam Oates sounded particularly concerned. Laich could be a sleeper this year as long as he can stay on the ice. He had close to 50 points for four straight seasons between 2008-2012.

Laich has missed all but nine games this season with a nagging groin injury but there’s optimism within the organization that he could return to the Capitals’ lineup in time for a second-round playoff series or even sooner.

Laich's tough season continues. He will miss his ninth consecutive game tonight. He has only appeared in nine games this season.

Laich has only played in 9 games this season.

Laich has only played in 9 games this year, recording 4 points.

Laich will miss his fourth straight game tonight.

Laich will miss his second straight game tonight.

A bit of mystery here as Laich's absence was described as a coaching decision and not related to injury. Sounds more like Laich wasn't in game shape and needed to sit.

“I thought he played very well considering the time off,” Oates said. He took one shift on the fourth line with Matt Hendricks and Jay Beagle before Oates bumped him up to the second line with Mike Ribeiro and Troy Brouwer. Laich played 12:51 in his season debut, but expect that to slowly increase as he gets worked back in to the Caps lineup. If he is playing with Ribeiro and Brouwer he could be worth a pickup in the near future.

Laich will in-fact make his season debut on the Capitals fourth line with Matt Hendricks and Jay Beagle. Laich could be a solid pick-up once he gets back into game shape and sees time as a top-6 forward.

Laich has not played a game yet this season because of a groin injury. It looks like he will play tonight on the Capitals fourth line. Laich had 16 goals and 25 assists in 82 games last season, making him worthy of a roster spot when he is back at 100%.

Laich originally suffered the groin injury in November while playing in Switzerland during the NHL lockout.