Pacioretty has been a full participant at practice the last two weeks and will make his season debut this week as he nears his return from his second Achilles surgery in less than a year, but will not play on Friday against the New York Islanders. Over the last three seasons, Pacioretty has struggled vehemently with injuries, playing only 92 total games. After recovering from his first Achilles surgery, he was only able to play five games last season before re-injuring his Achilles and forcing an abrupt end to his season. If Pacioretty can stay healthy, he could be a big boost for a Capitals team that ranks second-worst in the league offensively (2.34 GF / GP) and has the league's third-worst powerplay (12.1%).
