The wait is over for the Washington Capitals. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the Capitals are anticipated to activate Alex Ovechkin from the staff’s injured reserve Saturday night time in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Ovechkin has missed the final 16 video games for Washington after struggling a damaged fibula in opposition to the Utah Hockey Membership on Nov. 18. The harm was a serious buzzkill to Ovechkin’s season because the veteran sniper received off to a torrid begin with 15 targets and 25 factors in 18 video games.
His scorching begin put him solely 27 targets away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s document of 894 profession targets. Ovechkin will nonetheless have 48 video games to interrupt Gretzky’s document this season regardless of lacking over a month because of harm. Not solely will Ovechkin chase the goal-scoring document for the remaining regular-season video games, however he can even assist Washington pursue the staff’s first Metropolitan Division title because the 2019-20 season.
He’s now moved to second behind Connor McMichael in goal-scoring for the Capitals this season. Nonetheless, Washington carried out effectively in its captain’s absence with a 10-5-1 document. Exterior of their document, the Capitals have surprisingly excelled in areas of the sport that Ovechkin would in any other case excel in.
Washington managed a 16.4 % power-play share with 9 targets in 55 alternatives with Ovechkin within the lineup initially of the yr however has turned issues round with 13 targets in 47 makes an attempt (27.7 %) in his absence. Nonetheless, its five-on-five goal-scoring has taken fairly successful, dropping to three.68 GF/G after averaging 4.33 with Ovechkin.
The Capitals gained’t need to make any corresponding roster transfer for Ovechkin’s activation since they’re reportedly conserving Lars Eller on the staff’s injured reserve because of sickness. Former first-round decide Hendrix Lapierre will slot down the center of the staff’s third line, whereas Ovechkin will reprise his position on the staff’s high line.
Ovechkin has publicly said he’s placing the Capitals’ playoff aspirations above his chase for the goal-scoring document. If he can’t break it this season, he’ll have another yr underneath his present contract, giving him loads of time to finally take the crown.
