Alex Ovechkin is back.
The Washington Capitals will see the legendary goal scorer return against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday night for the first of two back-to-back road games this weekend. Washington went 10-5-1 without their captain over the past five weeks as Ovechkin missed a career-long stretch of 16 games due to a broken fibula.
Per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, head coach Spencer Carbery revealed the good news after the team’s optional morning skate.
WASH coach Spencer Carbery says Alexander Ovechkin returns tonight
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 28, 2024
Washington also posted a short hype video for Ovechkin’s return on their X account.
O Captain, welcome back my Captain#ALLCAPS | @Venture_Global pic.twitter.com/Shq5ou6jKC
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 28, 2024
Ovechkin never strayed too far from his teammates throughout injury rehab, traveling with the Capitals on multiple road trips and getting involved in the team’s day-to-day despite that usually not being the norm for players with long-term injuries. He began skating again just two weeks after getting hurt and is just over a week removed from starting to take contact during practice again.
The 39-year-old winger reached the final step in his return process at the Capitals’ practice on Friday. Ovechkin took line rushes with Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas and then worked with the club’s first power-play unit.
Ovechkin has not played since November 18. He has 25 points (15g, 10a) in 18 games this season. His last goal, scored shortly before getting injured in Utah, was the 868th of his career, leaving him just 26 goals shy of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time best mark.
The big Russian has tallied 78 points (44g, 34a) in 60 career games against Toronto and has historically loved playing on the road in Canada. In 29 games at Scotiabank Arena, he has dented the twine 24 times.
