Photo: NBC Sports Washington
After the Washington Capitals’ 7-6 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night, captain Alex Ovechkin, who scored a hat trick and notched four points in the loss, told the media that he will play against the Toronto Maple Leafs tomorrow night. As a result of this decision, he will have to serve his suspension for missing the NHL All-Star Weekend in San Jose this upcoming weekend against the Calgary Flames on Friday, February 1, the game following the All-Star Break.
After winning the Stanley Cup last season, the 33-year old wants to use the All-Star Break as a break to gear up for hopefully another long playoff run. He was voted in as captain of the Metropolitan Division by the fans.
Ovechkin will play in Toronto tomorrow, per Reirden. That means he’ll miss the Feb. 1 game against Calgary as his one-game suspension for skipping the ASG.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) January 23, 2019
Ovechkin enters Wednesday’s game at the Maple Leafs first in the NHL with 36 goals this season and leads the Capitals with 56 points through 49 games this season.
This was the second consecutive season and the third time in the past four that Ovechkin was voted in by the fans as captain of the Metropolitan Division.
Goaltender Braden Holtby, defenseman John Carlson, and head coach Todd Reirden will represent the Capitals in San Jose for All-Star weekend.
By Harrison Brown
I would say, count on the Flames winning that game. But not surprised that he would choose to sit out that game. Non-division and non-conference rival as opposed to the Leafs who are a conference rival, especially when that one will get televised to not just the local audience.
I also predict that a lot of people with tickets to the Flames game will put them up for sale.
Spoiler: I hate this All Star suspension rule.
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