Caps D John Carlson back on ice, still far from return

Out since taking a puck to the head Dec. 23, Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson skated with the team Wednesday for the first time since the injury.

Despite Carlson's return to the ice, coach Peter Laviolette said Wednesday that the 33-year-old is not close to returning to the lineup.

"This is an off-in-the-distance thing," Laviolette said. "But there's a process that goes with where he's at and what he's gone t