ARLINGTON, Va. —
Alex OvechkinThe status for the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Washington Capitals next calendar week is uncertain due to an upper trunk injury.
The 36-year-old forwards does non play confronting the New York Islanders at Capital letter One Arena on Tuesday just said he hopes he will be ready to start the playoffs, possibly May 2 or May 3. The Capitals will play against the Islanders. once more at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, Thursday.
“I feel pretty good. We’ll see,” Ovechkin told NBC Sports Washington before the game. “I’m not going to say yes or no, but at the moment we’ve but fabricated the decision non to play (tonight) and we’ll see what happens in the adjacent game.”
Ovechkin was injured during a 4-3 penalty shoot-out loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Lord's day. He tripped over the Maple Leafs goalie stick
Erik Kalgren
and hit left shoulder first into the final board after declining to score at one:58 to break away into the third menstruation.
Washington didn’t do Monday and Ovechkin didn’t participate in Tuesday’s morning skate.
“Alex is twenty-four hour period by day, and I call up we’ll evaluate it and do what’s best for Alex,” said Capitals coach Peter Laviolette.
The Capitals (44-23-12) have clinched a playoff berth and hold the second wild carte du jour to the playoffs from the Eastern Conference with 3 regular season games remaining. Washington trails the Pittsburgh Penguins by one indicate for third in the Metropolitan Sectionalization and the Boston Bruins past three points for the commencement wild card.
Ovechkin, who is fourth in the NHL and leads the Capitals with 50 goals this flavor, has missed 24 regular season games during his 17 NHL seasons through injury and has never missed a playoff game. He missed an additional 20 regular season games due to break and illness. He’s played 77 of Washington’s 79 games this season, missing twice while under NHL COVID-19 protocol.
“Honestly, the style of play, you’ll get injured,” center Capitals
Nicklas Backstrom
said. “But I just recall mentally he is very strong. He played through everything. That’s what he was like as a man. He didn’t miss a game. And no matter how hurt he is. He is one of those people you lot can get. always rely on.”
And then when Ovechkin misses a game, information technology will heighten a red flag. He missed a career-high xi NHL games last season, including four times in COVID-xix protocol and vii of viii games with a groin injury earlier returning for the regular flavour final against the Bruins.
“Well, at that place’s always a worry,” said Laviolette. “This came upward at the end of terminal yr. We ended up bothering some people right at the end of the season. We are in a really adept place. Nosotros had a flake of problem and those things were abrasive and you lot desire to exercise it. come in equally salubrious equally possible and give your best with the lineup “Healthy players. Last year was a bit difficult with a few things going on, just that’south what happened.
So similar I said, hopefully Alex is back in the lineup soon and anybody can stay on this path, get through this game and advance to the playoffs.”
Video: NYI@WSH: Ovechkin receives a painting from Capitals
The capital honored Ovechkin in Tuesday’s pre-match anniversary for a season total of milestones. He tied the NHL record shared by Wayne Gretzky and Mike Snobby when he striking 50 goals for the ninth fourth dimension in a 4-iii overtime loss to the Vegas Gold Knights on Wednesday.
Ovechkin is third in NHL history with 780 goals after passing Marcel Dionne (731) for fifth confronting the New York Rangers on Oct 13, Brett Hull (741) for fourth against the Columbus Blueish Jackets on Nov 12 and Jaromir Jagr (766) for third. against the Islanders on March 15. He’s 21 goals behind Gordie Howe for second (801) and 114 behind Gretzky’s NHL tape of 894.
Likewise as leading the Capitals in terms of goals, Ovechkin leads them by 90 points, the almost since he scored 109 in 2009-10. His 40 assists is his all-time since he made 53 in 2010-11.
“He hates not playing games,” said Laviolette. “He hates going out, so he wants to come back as soon as possible and we’re going to brand certain he’s in a practiced place to practice that.”
