Injury

Peter Laviolette doesn’t know if Alex Ovechkin will be ready for the start of the playoffs: ‘It depends on how things progress with him’

Hours before puck drop between the Capitals and Islanders, Alex Ovechkin’s status for the game is a virtual unknown due to the upper-body injury he suffered Sunday against the Leafs. Ovi will be on the ice for the team’s pregame ceremony honoring him for passing Jaromir Jagr for third on the NHL’s all-time goals list. It’s just unclear if he’ll be in his full pads or not.

Ovechkin did not participate in the Capitals’ morning skate on Tuesday. After practice, Peter Laviolette took questions on Ovechkin’s injury. The cagey and evasive Laviolette said Ovechkin was a game-time decision, but then also said he “didn’t know” if Ovechkin would be ready for the playoffs.

So wait, how can someone be a game-time decision but also possibly be out a week or more? Anyways, let’s try to read the tea leaves here.

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