F Max Pacioretty could make Capitals debut Saturday

Yet to play this season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, veteran forward Max Pacioretty may make his Washington Capitals debut on Saturday against the visiting Nashville Predators.

Pacioretty, 35, practiced on a line with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Matthew Phillips on Thursday, but won't play Friday at the New York Islanders. Ethan Bear, who signed a two-year deal Thursday, will also sit out Friday.

"They both will not be in the lineup. Getting closer and closer by the day," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery told reporters Friday. "We'll see about tomorrow, just based on how practice goes today and their post-pregame skate work that they get through, and then we'll see for tomorrow at home against Nashville."

After Pacioretty's first full-contact practice with Washington on Dec. 19, Carbery said he expected the 15-year veteran to play after the NHL's holiday break.

Pacioretty, a first-round draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens (No. 22 overall) in 2007, played in only five games with the Carolina Hurricanes last season before tearing his Achilles a second time.

The Capitals signed the six-time 30-goal scorer to a one-year, $2 million deal on July 1 that includes another $2 million in performance-based incentives.

"We'll see what happens. One day at a time," Pacioretty said Friday. "We're heading in the right direction, so I'm excited about that. ... This is what I've done for 30 years of my life. So, when I wasn't doing it, I was missing it.

"It makes you realize how much you love the game, and I'm definitely enjoying it right now, even just being a part of practices and even bag skates and whatnot. You realize that this is what I was born to do, so I'm just enjoying it."

In 855 games, Pacioretty has 645 points (326 goals, 319 assists) with the Canadiens (2008-18), Vegas Golden Knights (2018-22) and Hurricanes (2022-23).