Training camp is starting to leave marks around the league, with Washington monitoring Alex Ovechkin’s lower-body issue, New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov set for his long-awaited NHL return, and injury questions developing in Pittsburgh and St. Louis.
Ovechkin’s preseason status remains unsettled
Ovechkin missed Washington’s practice Monday for the second consecutive day and is being evaluated on a day-to-day basis. The 41-year-old left wing has been skating in camp alongside Dylan Strome and Ryan Leonard as he begins his 22nd NHL season.
Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said it is too early to know whether Ovechkin will get into a preseason game.
“We need to see how the week unfolds,” Carbery said. “After the day off, we have two practice days coming up, and that should give us a clearer picture of when he might play and how many games he could get.”
- Washington hosts the Boston Bruins on Friday.
- The Capitals then visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
- Those are Washington’s final two exhibition games.
Varlamov back in an Islanders crease
Varlamov will make his first NHL appearance since Nov. 29, 2024, when the Islanders visit the New York Rangers on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. The 38-year-old goalie has worked his way back after undergoing two partial knee replacement procedures.
He did get a late-season tune-up last year, appearing twice for Bridgeport in the American Hockey League, but Tuesday will mark his first action at the NHL level following the lengthy rehabilitation.
“I’m thrilled to be playing tonight,” Varlamov said. “I’ve been waiting to get back on the ice for a game. This is the time of year everyone looks forward to.”
Coach DeBoer said Varlamov’s return has been a significant process, while noting the AHL outings meant he was not entering cold. He said the club plans to split Tuesday’s game between Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin, then give each netminder a full game in the final preseason contest.
- Islanders at Rangers: Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET.
- Television: MSGSN and MSG.
- Varlamov last played an NHL game on Nov. 29, 2024.
Penguins and Blues sort through injuries
Pittsburgh forwards Justin Brazeau and Ben Kindel are both day to day after suffering lower-body injuries in Monday’s 4-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Brazeau logged 14:29 and recorded two shots, while Kindel had one shot in 6:13.
Forward Ville Koivunen will not play when Pittsburgh faces the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. He is also listed day to day, this time with an upper-body injury. The Penguins-Bruins game begins at 7 p.m. ET and will air on NESNplus and NBCSP+.
In St. Louis, defenseman Tyler Tucker is facing a more uncertain timeline after tweaking his knee during Sunday’s practice. Tucker was involved in a corner drill, left the ice with a limp, and did not skate Monday.
Blues coach Jim Montgomery said Tucker’s absence is expected to last longer than a day-to-day issue, though the defenseman will be checked again in the coming days before a timetable is set.
If Tucker cannot open the season, the injury could give Adam Jiricek an opportunity to claim a spot on the blue line. Jiricek was selected 16th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft.
- St. Louis opens the regular season at the Dallas Stars on Oct. 2.
- Puck drop is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.
- The game will be carried by HBO MAX, truTV and TNT.
