Photo: @SamanthaJPell

After a weeklong break of bye week vacations and the NHL All-Star Weekend, the Washington Capitals were back to work at Bell Centre in Montréal for a Sunday afternoon practice prior to a Monday night clash with the Canadiens (7:00 P.M. ET on NBC Sports Washington). Here is the latest from practice.

Practice Notes

Captain Alex Ovechkin will serve a one-game suspension for skipping the All-Star Game in St. Louis. He did practice with the team this afternoon.

Alex Ovechkin is on the ice at Centre Bell as the #Caps reconvene following a weeklong break. He won’t play tomorrow night as he serves a one-game suspension for skipping the All-Star Game. #Caps pic.twitter.com/FP1sujC2HT

— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) January 26, 2020

According to Head Coach Todd Reirden, goaltender Braden Holtby will be in net tomorrow night.

Holtby will start tomorrow in Montreal, per Reirden. #Caps

— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) January 26, 2020

Ovechkin on Kobe Bryant

Ovechkin spoke about the passing of former NBA player, Kobe Bryant.

Alex Ovechkin met Kobe Bryant about 3-4 times. Ovechkin specifically recalled one moment:

“He always shake my hand, he knows who I am. I remember when I was in the stands eating hot dogs and he was like pointing to me and I was like, ‘holy,’ but it is hard. It’s hard.”

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) January 26, 2020

“He was a legend in the basketball world and the whole world. It’s tough.” —Alex Ovechkin on Kobe Bryant, who once presented the #Caps’ captain with a game-worn jersey and sneakers after a game in L.A. pic.twitter.com/RQPZFFURem

— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) January 26, 2020

Back to Work

The Capitals enter the remainder of the regular season leading the league with 71 points and a 33-11-5 record. They have a combined record of 58-29-8 following their bye week – equivalent to a 110-point pace over an 82-game season since the NHL implemented a bye week in the 2016-17 season.

North of the border ❄️🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/LZ4uBpDlRa

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 26, 2020

Essential Links

Women’s hockey shines in NHL all-star spotlight but remains without its own stage (WaPo)

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman Discusses 2021 All-Star Weekend In Florida, Diversity, & Digital Innovations (NoVa Caps)

Has All-Star novelty worn off for NHL players? Some want to rest; others excited to go (USA Today)

Shavings

• Since the NHL implemented a bye week in the 2016-17 season, the Capitals have a combined record of 58-29-8 following their bye week – equivalent to 110-point pace over an 82-game season.
• The Capitals enter play Monday with an NHL-best 71 points (33-11-5) through 49 games, marking the third-best record in franchise history at the mark (2015-16: 76 points; 2016-17: 72 points). In each of the previous two times the Capitals recorded at least 71 points through 49 games, the Capitals went on to win the Presidents’ Trophy.
• Alex Ovechkin leads the team with 254 career goals in the months of February, March and April, including 109 in March, the third-most of any month (January: 117; November: 110).
• Braden Holtby is a combined 118-47-15 in February, March and April. Holtby’s 2.08 goals against average and 2.32 goals against average in April and March, respectively, are his lowest GAAs in any month, while his .933 save percentage in April is his highest.

By Della Young

An awesome day celebrating our players and our great game.

Sights and Sounds from 2020 #NHLAllStar#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/f5NgFJSU0i

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 26, 2020