Washington Capitals’ captain Alex Ovechkin skated at the team’s optional skate on Tuesday. Ovechkin has missed the last two practices with a lower-body injury.

Alex Ovechkin (lower-body) is on the ice for the Capitals’ optional practice today. pic.twitter.com/qqZW1f47ls

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) October 12, 2021

Ovechkin left the Capitals’ final preseason game on Friday with an apparent knee injurymidway 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.

Office hours for ⁦@ovi8⁩ pic.twitter.com/McmVXYmfTl

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) October 12, 2021

By Jon Sorensen