"I feel pretty good and I hope to play next game," Svechnikov said. "Not today, next game."
The best-of-7 series was tied 2-2.
RELATED: [Complete Capitals vs. Hurricanes series coverage]
Svechnikov, who was injured in a fight with Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin in the first period of Game 3 on April 15, returned to the ice Thursday wearing a full cage on his helmet. He participated in the Hurricanes morning skate Saturday wearing a non-contact jersey and went through a conditioning skate afterward. It was the first time he was on the ice with the full team since he was injured.
"I always recover so quickly, and we'll see," Svechnikov said. "I hope I'm going to play next game."
Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour was non-committal about whether Svechnikov would play before the end of the series.
"He's coming along really well. That's all I've been told," Brind'Amour said. "So until they tell me that it's even a possibility, I'm just going on as if he won't be."
Svechnikov, who had to helped off the ice after the fight, said Ovechkin reached out to check on him after Game 3.
"He called me right after the game and I just talked with him a little bit, you know," Svechnikov said.
Svechnikov said Ovechkin apologized, "a little bit."
"I said, 'Sometimes it happens,'" Svechnikov said. "You never know."
