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Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin out Thursday vs. Montreal as lineup questions loom

By Andrew Gillis

Caps return from NHL All-Star weekend with lineup questions originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

While the unofficial second half of the season for the Capitals starts Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, their optional skate on Monday afternoon was a not-so-friendly reminder of the issues that plagued them in the first part of the year. 

The Capitals did not have goaltenders Vitek Vanecek (upper-body injury) or Ilya Samsonov at the skate. Pheonix Copley was the netminder at practice (along with video coach Brett Leonhardt).

Additionally, forwards Alex Ovechkin, Connor McMichael and T.J. Oshie (upper-body) were not in attendance. The team was awaiting more COVID-19 test results as well. 

Coach Peter Laviolette said the team’s goaltending situation is up in the air for Tuesday’s game against the Blue Jackets. 

“We’re going through things in here and from some of the guys that weren’t on the ice I have to go back and find out where everything sits now with these guys with more testing going on,” Laviolette said. 

As for the forward units, Ovechkin tested positive just before the NHL All-Star weekend and missed the festivities in Las Vegas. He was scheduled to be the team captain for the Metropolitan Division. But that means he is eligible to return to action Tuesday if he clears COVID protocol. Even if he does, however, he will be unavailable to play Thursday in Montreal due to Canadian travel restrictions. 

“I think it depends on how he feels,” Laviolette said of Ovechkin playing Tuesday. “Last time he was out I think for 10 days or 11 days, there’s no way you’re going to keep him out of the lineup. I would imagine only being out for six days, he’d want to jump back in there.”

The team did get back defenseman Michal Kempny from COVID protocol. He was placed in protocol on Jan. 28 in Dallas and Monday was his first time back on the ice in Arlington. He is available for Tuesday’s game should the Capitals need him. 

On the injury front, Laviolette said both Oshie and Anthony Mantha (shoulder surgery) are progressing. While the team hopes Oshie’s return to the lineup is sooner rather than later, Mantha’s return to the lineup is still months away. 

“Hopefully, we see him out on the ice at some point, maybe not with us, but just getting back out on the ice and getting into a rhythm with what he’s doing out there,” Laviolette said of Mantha. “And so everybody’s in a different situation, there’s a lot of question marks that remain.”

Taxi squads are now gone since the All-Star game has passed, meaning the Capitals and teams around the league will no longer have that safety net.

All about Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin with stats and contract info

By NBC Sports Washington Staff
All about Alex Ovechkin with stats and contract info originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonEver since making his NHL debut in 2005, Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has proven to be the greatest goalscorer the sport has ever seen.The 2004 No. 1 overall pick scored two goals in his first career game and hasn't stopped finding the back of the net at record pace, putting him within reach of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals mark. Ovechkin has compiled an impressive trophy case along the way, winning three Hart Memorial Trophy MVPs, a record nine Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies as the NHL's leading goal scorer, nine NHL First-Team selections, 12 all-star selections, the 2018-19 Stanley Cup title and the Conn Smythe Trophy for the MVP of that year's playoffs.He is undoubtedly one of the greatest hockey players of all time. Alex Ovechkin's BioHeight: 6-foot-3Weight: 238 poundsBirthdate: Sept. 17, 1985 Birthplace: Moscow, RussiaNHL experience: 17 seasonsJersey No. 8Alex Ovechkin's Career StatsAfter showing no signs of slowing down with a 50-goal season in Year 17, Ovechkin has continued to put up mind-boggling stats deep into his 30s. Here are his complete career numbers to date (through Oct 11, 2022): 1,274 games played780 goals scored630 assists1,410 pointsStanley Cup Playoffs:141 games71 goals64 assists135 pointsAlex Ovechkin's Contract DetailsIt was always a matter of "when" and not "if" Alex Ovechkin would sign a contract extension with the Capitals this past offseason. The five-year, $47.5 million deal he signed at the end of July 2021 showed his desire to finish his career in the nation's capital with an eye towards breaking the all-time goals record as well. Ovechkin's deal ends following the 2025-26 season. Where does Alex Ovechkin rank on the all-time goals list? Ovechkin finished his 17th NHL season with a clean 50 goals, bringing his career total to 780. Here's where that ever-growing mark ranks on the all-time goals leaderboard: Wayne Gretzky: 894Gordie Howe: 801Alex Ovechkin: 780Jaromir Jagr: 766Brett Hull: 741Other Alex Ovechkin RecordsMuch has been made about Ovechkin's all-time goals chase, but he's also accumulated some other pretty impressive records along the way as well. Most recently, Ovi broke the all-time power play goals mark with his 275th score on New Year's Eve against the Red Wings. By a second, he narrowly beat the release of Detroit's man in the penalty box to secure the record. Here are some of the Great 8's other all-time NHL records: Most scoring titles: nineMost overtime goals: 24Most consecutive 30-goal seasons: 15 (tied with Jaromir Jagr and Mike Gartner)
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