Alex Ovechkin Returns To Practice For Capitals; Latest On Captain As He Joins Group For First Time In Camp
The Capitals captain was back on the ice for practice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, marking the first time he's skated with the group all training camp.
ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals got great news on the injury front on Saturday, as captain Alex Ovechkin, still in a non-contact jersey, returned to practice and joined the group for the first time at training camp.
Joining the group and getting reps in is a positive sign for the 40-year-old, who has been day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Ovechkin cycled in on the forward lines, and also participated in small-area drills. Here were the combinations from Group A:
Aliaksei Protas-Pierre-Luc Dubois-Ryan Leonard
Brandon Duhaime-Ilya Protas-Justin Sourdif
Andrew Cristall-Eriks Mateiko-Graeme Clarke
Terik Parascak-Patrick Thomas-Bogdan Trineyev
Alex Ovechkin
Jakob Chychrun-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Rasmus Sandin-Dylan McIlrath
Louie Belpedio-Cam Allen
David Gucciardi
Charlie Lindgren
Clay Stevenson
Coach Spencer Carbery said the hope is for Ovechkin to get into at least one road and one home exhibition game before the regular season, though they will continue to play things by ear and see where things go.
Ovechkin is entering his 21st NHL season and the final year of his contract. He sits three goals away from hitting 900 in his career.