Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin was once again a non-participant in Capitals practice on Monday. Ovechkin also sat out the team’s practice on Sunday.
Alex Ovechkin (lower-body) is not at Capitals practice today. Second practice missed after leaving with an injury in Friday’s preseason finale.
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) October 11, 2021
Ovechkin left the Capitals’ final preseason game on Friday with an apparent knee injury midway through the first period after he collided with Philadelphia Flyers’ right-wing Travis Konecny. The team announced at the first intermission that he would not return to the game.
Alex Ovechkin hobbled off the ice after hitting Travis Konecny. pic.twitter.com/4M3nFl2IoL
— Ryan Gilbert (@RGilbertSOP) October 8, 2021
Capitals Coach Peter Laviolette said after practice on Sunday that he doesn’t think Alex Ovechkin’s lower-body injury is long-term. He is still listed as day-to-day, but not sure if he plays in Wednesday’s season-opener.
The lines at practice on Monday:
Capitals lines during practice with no Alex Ovechkin (lower-body):
McMichael-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Mantha-Eller-Sprong
Sheary-Lapierre-Oshie
Hagelin-Dowd-HathawayFehervary-Carlson
TvR-Schultz
Orlov-JensenExtras: Malenstyn, Irwin
No Backstrom (hip)— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) October 11, 2021
The Capitals power play units without Ovechkin:
The Capitals are at least preparing to play without Ovechkin on Wednesday. First PP unit today has Carlson in the left circle spot and Schultz at the point.
PP1: Carlson, Schultz, Oshie, Kuznetsov, Mantha.
PP2: Orlov, Sprong, Wilson, Eller, Lapierre.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) October 11, 2021
The Capitals will open their regular-season schedule against the New York Rangers on Wednesday night. They will already be without center Nicklas Backstrom, who has yet to skate since the team’s first-round series exit in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
By Jon Sorensen
