Capitals' Orpik to return to lineup after 40-game absence

Veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik is expected to return to the ice after a 40-game absence on Tuesday when the Washington Capitals host the Los Angeles Kings.

Orpik had been sidelined with a lower-body bone injury since Nov. 10, but the Capitals have won 30 of the 40 games he's missed (30-6-4). The 35-year-old is keeping his expectations low as he prepares to get his feet wet.

Via The Washington Post:

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

Orpik is expected to join Dmitry Orlov on the third pairing while fellow defenseman Taylor Chorney likely will be a healthy scratch for the NHL-leading Capitals (40-10-4).

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Signed to a $27.5 million deal in the summer of 2014, Orpik scored a goal and set up two others in 14 games this season after notching 19 assists in 78 contests in 2014-15.