After a day off on Saturday, the Capitals held practice Sunday morning at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. Team captain Alex Ovechkin, who was injured in Friday night’s final preseason game, did not participate in the team’s practice on Sunday.
Ovechkin left Friday’s game midway through the first period with an apparent knee injury after a collision with Philadelphia Flyers’ right-wing Travis Konecny. The team announced during the first intermission that he would not return to the game.
Lines at practice on Sunday morning.
Capitals lines during practice with no Alex Ovechkin (lower-body, day-to-day):
McMichael-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Mantha-Eller-Sprong
Sheary-Lapierre-Oshie
Hagelin-Dowd-HathawayFehervary-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
TvR-SchultzExtras: Pilon, Malenstyn, Irwin
No Backstrom (hip)— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) October 10, 2021
Connor McMichael skated in Ovechkin’s position during Sunday’s practice. Lars Eller moved up to take Nicklas Backstrom’s position at center on the second line. Hendrix Lapierre filled-in for Eller centering the third line.
The team announced Sunday morning that Ovechkin is currently listed “day-to-day”. Backstrom remains listed “week-to-week.”
The Capitals are now just three days away from the beginning of the 2021-22 season. They host the New York Rangers on Wednesday at Capital One Arena.
By Jon Sorensen
Good thing McMichael can also play wing.
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