"Nicklas Backstrom stood outside the Washington Capitals' dressing room Thursday night at Verizon Center, leaning against a doorway in a charcoal gray suit. He caught up with his Swedish countrymen from that evening's opponent, and occasionally cracked just the slightest smile.

For that moment, it seemed easy to forget that Backstrom remains sidelined indefinitely by a concussion, unable to play or even skate for more than five minutes over the past month. His plight is not atypical of players who have suffered head injuries this season, and his return will come only after he meets protocols established by the league.

Sunday, when the Capitals take on the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, will mark 40 days since the center absorbed an elbow to the head from then-Calgary forward Rene Bourque. The blow caused a concussion that has forced Backstrom to miss 16 games and counting. He hasn't skated for more than five minutes since Jan. 6 and there remains no indication of when the center will return.

"I'm not 100 percent to skate right now," Backstrom said Saturday in his first English interview in more than a month. "We'll see when it's going to be time for me to hit the ice. Right now, I'm taking it day-by-day to see how I feel.""