Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin participated in the team’s gameday morning skate Wednesday morning. Ovechkin has been dealing with a lower body injury he suffered in the Capitals last preseason game.
Ovechkin participated in the team’s line rushes this morning. Here are the lines at morning skate:
Capitals at morning skate (vs. NYR tonight):
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Mantha-Eller-Sprong
Sheary-Lapierre-Oshie
Hagelin-Dowd-HathawayFehervary-Carlson
Orlov-Jensen
TvR-SchultzSamsonov
Vanecek https://t.co/Nymj748f48— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) October 13, 2021
Ovechkin spoke with the media following the team’s morning skate. He said he doesn’t know yet if he’s playing tonight. He was Asked if he’ll be a game-time decision, he said “Yeah, you can write that on the Twitter.”
Alex Ovechkin speaks with the media after morning skate.#CapsRangers | @MedStarHealth pic.twitter.com/O1GxWaKttZ
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 13, 2021
Signs are pointing to Vitek Vanecek getting the start tonight, as he was the first goalie off the ice this morning.
Vitek Vanecek is first off the ice for Capitals morning skate. Sure looks like he is the Caps starting goalie vs NYR tonight.
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) October 13, 2021
The Capitals power play units at morning skate:
Capitals power play units:
PP1: Ovechkin, Carlson, Kuznetsov, Oshie, Mantha
PP2: Orlov, Schultz, Lapierre, Eller, Wilson
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) October 13, 2021
Ovechkin sat out the team’s practices on Sunday and Monday. He 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
The Capitals open their 2021-22 season tonight when they host the New York Rangers at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:30 PM.
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By Jon Sorensen