Ovechkin Set for Capitals’ Opener Against Hurricanes After Injury Absence

Alex Ovechkin is expected to be in the Washington Capitals lineup Friday night when they open the season against the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh. The 41-year-old winger missed the entire preseason with a lower-body injury, but he has returned to full practices and said he feels ready for the opener.

“The first couple of games might be difficult because I did not get into preseason action and the last week of training was not what I wanted,” Ovechkin said Wednesday. “But overall, I feel good.”

Washington kept Ovechkin out of its final two exhibition games after he had already missed three straight days of skating during camp. He said the injury occurred in training camp, and the club chose caution rather than risking a setback before the schedule turned real.

“That’s how it goes,” Ovechkin said. “I would rather be healthy during the season than pick up more injuries in the preseason.”

Ovechkin back on his usual wing

Ovechkin skated Wednesday alongside center Dylan Strome and Ryan Leonard, giving the Capitals a look at a familiar top-line setup before they leave for Carolina. Washington will hold one more home practice Thursday, then travel south for the opener.

The NHL’s career goals leader enters his 22nd season with 929 goals. He dealt with a similar lower-body issue in camp last year, sitting out Washington’s first four preseason games before playing the final two. That did not slow his regular season: Ovechkin dressed for all 82 games and led the Capitals with 32 goals and 64 points.

This camp offered less runway. The training schedule was roughly a week shorter, and the preseason slate was reduced to four games, leaving Ovechkin no exhibition shifts to test his timing before Friday.

After the horn

The Capitals will not get an easy easing-in assignment. Carolina opened its season Tuesday with a 1-0 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers, then gets the Capitals in its home opener.

Ovechkin said Washington is eager for the test against the champions.

“Practice had good pace today, and we will take that,” he said. “Everyone is excited to play the Cup champions in the first game. It should be a good battle for us.”

Washington then heads directly into another road test, visiting the Tampa Bay Lightning the following night. Ovechkin pointed to the back-to-back as an immediate measure of where the Capitals stand.

“The start matters a lot for us mentally, and the schedule is not easy right away,” he said. “Carolina and then Tampa on back-to-back nights is a good challenge.”

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