Screen cap: @Capitals

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin returned to team workouts this morning following a five-day stint in COVID protocol. Ovechkin tested positive for COVID-19 last Wednesday and missed the Capitals final game before the All-Star break against the Edmonton Oilers.  The Capitals’ captain is expected to return to the lineup tonight against the Blue Jackets.

Ovechkin met with the media following the team’s morning skate in Ballston. He said his bout with COVID went relatively well. “Good. No symptoms, nothing,” said Ovechkin when asked how he felt.

Ovechkin was disappointed to miss the All-Star game, but believes it was harder for his wife, Nastya, who was to accompany him to Las Vegas. She flew from Moscow last week only to return a day later.

“Yeah, obviously it’s hard. Especially for my wife. She came here, left Sergei and Ilya at home to come here. In the morning we do the before the game testing and get positive. It was kinda hard for her, but nothing you can do. Rules are rules. That’s it.” He said his wife stayed one night in Northern Virginia before returning to Moscow.

Ovechkin watched the All-Star game festivities this weekend, if for no other reason, out of pure necessity. “Yeah, nothing to do. Of course, I watched it.”

He said approved of Kirill Kaprizov’s tribute to him during the breakaway challenge, but thought the judging of Kaprizov’s effort was rather harsh.

everything about this was gr8 pic.twitter.com/BrP0UdET3J

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 5, 2022

“I think it’s pretty cool. I think it was fun. I don’t know why he don’t get too many points, what’s the referee doing out there?”

Kaprizov received a score of “8” from most of the judges (appropriate) but received one score of “6” from one suspect judge.

The Capitals return to the ice tonight when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is set for just after 7:00 PM.

By Jon Sorensen