ARLINGTON, VA — The Capitals are set to kick off their preseason against the Boston Bruins on Sunday, but the team’s non-game group got in some competition of their own back home. Players not participating in the preseason tilt spent Sunday morning at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, hitting the ice for an intrasquad scrimmage between Team Red and Team White.
Captain Alex Ovechkin did not play in the scrimmage and remains out with a lower-body injury, though he was present at the team’s facilities Sunday morning. After leaving the first skate of training camp early on Thursday, Ovechkin has yet to return to the ice, with head coach Spencer Carbery labelling the injury day-to-day.
Martin Fehervary and Justin Sourdif, who have both been participating in camp in no-contact jerseys, also did not dress for the scrimmage.
Team Red put up a commanding six goals in regulation, thanks in large part to Aliaksei and Ilya Protas. The brothers, who spent the summer training together, each scored twice on Sunday.
The game included five-on-five, four-on-four, and three-on-three play, though no time was spent on special teams. Instead, infractions resulted in a penalty shot, which Dylan Strome converted on in the third period.
A shootout followed the end of regulation, leading to a final score of 7-5. Players skated laps — with extra work for the losing Team White — and stretched to end the session.
Washington’s game group will head to Boston Sunday evening for the first contest of the preseason, which will include Sonny Milano’s first game back since November 2024 and the preseason debut of Lynden Lakovic, who has been a standout in the early days of camp. Puck drop is set for 5 pm at TD Garden.
