After having Sunday off, the Capitals practiced for over an hour on Monday. The latter part of the session was devoted to a conditioning skate.

Winger Alexander Semin was not on the ice; he is ill and went to visit a doctor. Left wing Tomas Fleischmann skated earlier in the morning on his own. Fleischmann is on long-term injured reserve, and has not yet been cleared for normal practice and game conditions.

Center Boyd Gordon, who has missed the last two games with a back ailment, came out for Monday’s skate but didn’t remain for long. Injured defensemen John Erskine (hand) and Shaone Morrisonn (lower body) both went through the entire practice, as did goaltender Jose Theodore (back spasms).

Theodore left Thursday’s 4-1 win over San Jose after the first period. He is not likely to start the Caps’ next game against the Thrashers this Thursday. Theodore had two tough starts at Philips Arena last season, going 0-1 with a 7.68 goals against average and a .778 save pct. in two starts in the Atlanta barn.

Varlamov started one game at Philips Arena and relieved Theodore in another. The 21-year-old Russian rookie is 1-0 with a 2.07 GAA and a .919 save pct. lifetime in Atlanta.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s game against the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum, it’s likely Theodore will be healthy enough to start. He is only 3-6-1 lifetime in that building, but he has a very impressive 1.96 GAA and a .935 save pct. against New York on Long Island.