Alex Ovechkin will sit out Washington’s final two preseason dates while the Capitals manage a lower-body injury, but the club expects its captain to be ready for the Oct. 2 regular-season opener against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Key takeaways
- Ovechkin will not dress against the Boston Bruins on Friday or the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
- Capitals coach Spencer Carbery expects the 41-year-old to be available in Carolina unless his recovery takes an unexpected turn.
- Washington is choosing caution over exhibition-game reps as Ovechkin enters his 22nd NHL campaign.
- Ovechkin played all 82 games last season, scoring a team-high 32 goals and lifting his NHL-record career total to 929.
Capitals protect their captain before opening night
Washington’s decision came after Ovechkin returned to the ice this week. He was absent from skating for three consecutive days, took part in a short practice Wednesday, then completed a full session Thursday. He was also on the ice for Friday morning skate before the Capitals confirmed he would remain out for both remaining exhibitions.
Carbery said the team’s outlook has not changed: Ovechkin is expected to play when Washington opens its season at Carolina on Oct. 2. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with the game set for HHN, CARNHL, MNMT, SN and TVAS.
“I expect him to be ready,” Carbery said, adding that a setback would have to occur for Ovechkin to miss the opener.
Health takes priority over preseason action
The Capitals would prefer to give Ovechkin at least some game action before the schedule turns real, but Carbery made clear that there is no reason to force the issue in late September. The coach said Washington will not rush its leading scorer if he is anything short of fully healthy.
“It is not the ideal situation to have him miss every preseason game,” Carbery said. “But if he is only at 90 or 95 percent, there is no reason to push him for an exhibition game. We will give him however many extra days he needs to get all the way back.”
Ovechkin faced a similar training-camp interruption last year, also dealing with a lower-body issue. He missed Washington’s first four preseason games, appeared in the final two, and then did not miss a regular-season game. His 32-goal season extended the all-time NHL scoring record he already owns to 929 goals.
