Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin told the media after the team’s final practice before they leave for Toronto for the final week of training camp on Sunday that “mentally, everyone’s ready.” The team is excited to go to Toronto for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but disappointed to part with family, he said.
Ovechkin told the media “everybody [is] fresh” and the team does not have a lot of injuries, aside from goaltender Ilya Samsonov (undisclosed), who will miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs. “We miss playing hockey. Being together is a fun thing,” he added on what gives him confidence about his team.
On Samsonov, a fellow Russian, not being available for the rest of the season, Ovechkin said, “Hard decision for him. If he was healthy, he would go with us for sure.”
Ovechkin told the media that the team has not had enough time to practice remembering power-play moves in practice, but said “I’m confident in (both) our (special teams) units.” He added that he is sure that the Capitals will get more into special teams during the final week of training camp in Toronto.
“We miss playing hockey. It’s exciting what we have right now in the locker room. Just to be together. It’s a fun thing.”
Ovi chatted with the media for the last time in Phase 3 before heading to Toronto. #ALLCAPS | @ovi8 pic.twitter.com/LZZrp7YCts
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 25, 2020
By Harrison Brown
