Ovechkin Out For Capitals’ Tilt With Islanders

WASHINGTON, D.C. — It looks like the Washington Capitals will be without captain Alex Ovechkin for Tuesday’s game against the New York Islanders.

Ovechkin, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, did not take the ice for warmups. He didn’t take part in the Capitals’ morning skate on Tuesday but was said to be a game-time decision.

This will be the first game that Ovechkin misses this season due to injury. He missed two others back in February due to COVID-19. In his 17-year career, this will be just the 25th game he’ll sit out due to injury.

The 36-year-old was injured in the third period of Sunday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ovechkin tripped over Erik Kallgren’s stick while trying to score on the breakaway and went awkwardly into the boards. He stayed down for a moment before getting up and skating off under his own power. He did not return.

Head coach Peter Laviolette provided an update on Ovechkin on Tuesday, listing him as day-to-day. He said he hopes that Ovechkin will be back soon and ready for Game 1 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but it depends on his progress. Washington has two games left in the regular season after Tuesday’s matchup.

With the Great 8 out, Connor McMichael will fill in on the top-line left wing alongside Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson.

Washington is still honoring Ovechkin in a pregame ceremony for taking sole possession of third on the NHL’s all-time goals list.