Ovechkin Opens Up After Return From Injury: ‘Don’t Want To Miss Games — Just Can’t’

WASHINGTON — After missing Tuesday's game and being listed as a game-time decision for the Washington Capitals' must-win tilt against the Buffalo Sabres, captain Alex Ovechkin came back from a lower-body injury with a bang, putting up a goal and assist en route to a huge 5-4 comeback shootout win.

The 37-year-old shared more about how he was feeling postgame.

"Fine," he put it simply.

Ovechkin has missed six games this season, with two of those being due to undisclosed lower-body injuries. The team is 0-6-0 without him this season and has lost the last nine games overall when Ovechkin is sidelined.

The Russian scored his 37th goal of the season and 817th career goal in the third period to add to the big rally in the third that ultimately forced overtime. He also assisted on T.J. Oshie's power-play goal early on after faking a shot and sliding the puck to the front, where Dylan Strome and Oshie joined forces to bury it.

"It's always great to come back obviously. How I said, this time of the year, you don't want to miss any games — sometimes, you just can't."

Head coach Peter Laviolette liked what he saw from Ovechkin in his return and said that Ovechkin will play when he's capable.

"If there's a chance he can play, he's going to play. We needed him out there," Laviolette said. "I thought under the circumstances of him and what he dealt with yesterday, last night and this morning getting ready to jump into that game, I thought he gave us what he had."

Washington is now three points out of a playoff spot and trails the New York Islanders, who are currently facing the Anaheim Ducks.