ARLINGTON, VA — Alex Ovechkin was back on the ice with the Capitals on Thursday, taking part in a full practice for the first time in his recovery from a lower-body injury.
Ovechkin, who missed practice on Sunday and Monday, had previously skated with the team on Wednesday, but left the ice around 15 minutes into the session for what head coach Spencer Carbery deemed “precautionary” reasons. He was a full participant for the entirety of Thursday’s skate, taking reps with his regular line alongside Dylan Strome and Ryan Leonard.
Carbery was pleased to see Ovechkin’s progress, but was not yet sure if he would be ready for Friday’s game against the Boston Bruins.
“It was a good sign,” he said. “Participated fully. Didn’t have to take any portions off, so that’s a good step…I’m not going to definitively say one way or another (whether he will play Friday). Chance, but I’ll talk to Serbs (Capitals head athletic trainer Jason Serbus).”
Ovechkin, now nursing an injury in his third straight Training Camp, did not play in either of the Capitals’ first two preseason games last week. Carbery confirmed that Ovechkin will play in a maximum of one preseason game this weekend before Opening Night against the Carolina Hurricanes on October 2.
The Capitals are expected to use Friday’s game as a dress rehearsal for their regular-season lineup, with a more “non-vet” lineup taking the ice against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. If Ovechkin isn’t ready to play against Boston, Carbery didn’t fully rule out the possibility that he joins the younger lineup in Pennsylvania, though he wasn’t enthused about the idea.
“It is a possibility (he plays) in Philly,” Carbery said. “Not ideal, because of the early start and no pregame skate, so I don’t love that. We haven’t talked about that. We’re just kind of approaching it day-by-day, and if he can’t go tomorrow — if the recommendation from Serbs is he can’t go tomorrow — then we’ll talk about if it’s a good idea for him to play against Philly.”
Though the Capitals would prefer for Ovechkin to play this weekend, Carbery expressed confidence in Ovechkin even if he goes without a preseason game. He pointed to Ovechkin’s experience last year, when he missed the majority (though not all) of the preseason after sustaining a lower-body injury on the first day of Training Camp.
“Ideally, if you asked me one or the other, I would say yes (it’s important for him to play), but I don’t think it’s a real definitive — just because he’s been through this so many times,” Carbery said. “He was out for a bit at the beginning of camp (last year). I’m not worried. At this point in his career, I’m pretty sure he knows what he needs to do to get up to speed for a season opener.”
After closing out their preseason schedule this weekend, the Capitals will have five days off before heading to Raleigh for Opening Night against the Carolina Hurricanes.
