The Caps just finished up an optional practice here at K-Plex. There is no official update on Shaone Morrisonn yet because he is seeing the doctor, but Bruce Boudreau does not expect him in the lineup tomorrow night. When he left the ice last night, he was clearly favoring his shoulder/collarbone area. The Caps are not planning to call up Sami Lepisto for tomorrow's game, but the Bears are at home so they could get him here pretty quickly in an emergency situation. Steve Eminger will take Morrisonn's place if he can't play.

David Steckel practiced again today, but he won't be able to play against Tampa Bay. The pins are out, but he can't bend his right index finger enough to be effective. He said he can shoot and take draws, but if someone slashed his hand in the corner he would not be able to hold onto his stick. He is working with a physical therapist to try to regain full motion.

As for the playoff scenarios, there are several options for the Caps to find their way into the postseason. Obviously, they need to win both games, and Boudreau said he made sure to remind his troops that these games are far from a given. On the dry erase board there was a synopsis of the past three games against Tampa Bay that pointed out that the Caps haven't played all that well in any those three games.

But here are some of the ways the Caps can get in, if they finish with 94 points:

Carolina loses to either Tampa or Florida.

Ottawa loses in regulation to either Toronto or Boston or in overtime to both.

Boston or Philadelphia loses twice in their last three (one can be of the overtime/shootout variety)

The Rangers lose their final three games (one can be of the overtime/shootout variety)

Should Carolina lose, the Caps will know they can get in when they play Saturday. There is also another scenario that can play out. If New Jersey beats Boston in regulation tonight, then it won't matter to the Caps who wins the Ottawa-Boston game on Friday, as long as the game ends in regulation. In that scenario, the Caps would go into Saturday's game against Florida knowing they will pass whoever lost that game.

- Corey Masisak

UPDATE (12:53): The update on Shaone Morrisonn is that he is having further tests done on an upper body injury and he is definitely out for tomorrow's game. His status beyond tomorrow is uncertain.