Alex Ovechkin To Skip NHL All-Star Game For Second Straight Season

Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin was voted in as the captain of the Metropolitan Division Team for the 2020 NHL All-Star Game for the fourth overall and third consecutive season by fans earlier this week, and sat out the 2019 contest to remain healthy for the Capitals’ playoff run. After the Caps’ 2-1 overtime victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night, Ovechkin told reporters that he would sit out the game for the second consecutive season.

Per The Atheletic’s Tarik El-Bashir, Ovechkin, who is now 34-years old, has cited his physcial health and well-being as the primary reason for sitting out the All-Star Game in St. Louis, Missouri this season.

NEWS: Alex Ovechkin has decided to skip this year’s All-Star Game. At 34, he wants to ensure he’s physically ready for the second half of the season and playoffs.

— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) December 28, 2019

Per NHL Rules, Ovechkin will be suspended for one game as a result of his decision to sit out the All-Star Game, either before or after the contest.

Reirden on Ovechkin skipping ASG:

“It’s the right thing for him at age 34 to rest and get ready for what he ultimately wants, and that’s another run at the Cup.”

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) December 28, 2019

Ovechkin has been named to the All-Star Game nine times and has played in seven of them, sitting out last season and this season. He ranks second among active players (Patrick Kane) in All-Star Game appearances.

By Michael Fleetwood

View this post on Instagram

#ALLCAPS practice photos now up on our site. (📸 @joe_noyes_photography) @aleksandrovechkinofficial @jakubvranaa @samsonov_30 @tylerlewington @orlov_09 @tjoshie7 @62hagsofficial @tomwilson @larsellerofficial @kuzy092 @jc7474 @capitals #LetsGoCaps #RockTheRed #WashingtonCapitals #alexovechkin #Ovechkin #alexovechkin #александровечкин #Овечкин #хоккей #хоккейроссиalexovechkin #Ovechkin #alexovechkin #александровечкин #Овечкин #хоккей #хоккейросc

A post shared by NoVa Caps (@nova_caps) on Oct 9, 2019 at 2:21pm PDT

About Michael Fleetwood

Michael Fleetwood was born into a family of diehard Capitals fans and has been watching games as long as he can remember. He was born the year the Capitals went to their first Stanley Cup Final, and is a diehard Caps fan, the owner of the very FIRST Joe Beninati jersey and since then, has met Joe himself. His favorite player became former Capital Nate Schmidt after he met Schmidt in a Hershey hotel while in Hershey PA to see the Bears play, shortly after Schmidt was injured during a conditioning stint. Michael is also a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Orioles, and enjoys photography, watching WildEarth TV's SafariLive live safaris, and watching animals in his spare time. (Photo by Adam Vingan in 2014 at the Capitals Development Camp).

View all posts by Michael Fleetwood →