Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is nearing the four-to-six-week return window initially outlined for him when he suffered a left fibula fracture last month. After skating in a non-contact jersey at follow over the previous week, head coach Spencer Carbery stated the celebrity winger received’t play Friday towards the Hurricanes however might return Sunday towards the Kings or on Monday versus the Bruins. Sammi Silber of The Hockey News relayed the knowledge.
Coming into the season, doubt was starting to creep in over whether or not Ovechkin might move Wayne Gretzky’s all-time objectives report of 894. His 31 objectives in 79 video games final 12 months was his lowest whole in a full season for the reason that 2016-17 marketing campaign.
These doubts have been silenced inside weeks. The Caps bought off to a raucous begin, fueled partly by Ovi’s 15 objectives and 25 factors by means of his first 18 video games of the season. He performed his greatest hockey of the season till the harm, recording seven objectives and two assists in his final 5 video games. Sadly, an innocuous knee-on-knee collision with Utah ahead Jack McBain hit pause on his chase for the report. He’s nonetheless 26 snipes again of tying Gretzky, sitting alone in second in NHL historical past with 868 objectives. He’d have 50 video games to attain the rest if he plans on tying the report in 2024-25, assuming he returns Sunday.
Shedding Ovechkin for the final month hasn’t considerably impacted Washington’s report. They’re nonetheless 8-4-1 of their final 13 with out him, outscoring opponents 40-33 and outshooting them 380-337. They’ve continued to dominate possession at even power, controlling 56.5% of shot makes an attempt throughout that window. They’ve solely continued to ascertain themselves as shock championship contenders after limping into the playoffs final 12 months with a 40-31-11 report and a -36 aim differential.
Ovechkin had been flanked by staff assists chief Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas on the primary line earlier than exiting the lineup. Protas has been moved right down to Pierre-Luc Dubois’ line in Ovechkin’s absence. Whereas The Nice Eight will undoubtedly reunite with Strome in his return, he could have Tom Wilson on his reverse wing this time.
Ovechkin is on injured reserve, and for the reason that Capitals have a full energetic roster, they’ll possible transfer Thursday forward of the midnight roster freeze to unencumber an area for him to return within the subsequent few days. Carbery advised Silber that Ovechkin will take contact in follow both Friday or Saturday.
