Capitals head coach provides update on Alexander Ovechkin's injury

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Ryan
April 26, 2022 (1:37 PM)

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We are in the final week of the season and the Washington Capitals have three games remaining. While they have already clinched a playoff spot, the Capitals are in a fight with the Pittsburgh Penguins for 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division and ''the battle to not play Florida.''

The worst possible scenario happened to the Capitals on Sunday, which was captain Alexander Ovechkin leaving the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs with injury and not returning. The Capitals would announce Monday that he is ''day-to-day''.

Alex Ovechkin not on the ice for morning skate. He's listed as day-to-day upper body injury #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/Zcz9vz0Imq� Alexa Landestoy (Shaw) (@alexalandestoy) April 26, 2022

The Capitals practiced this morning and Ovechkin was absent from practice. Taking Ovechkin's place on the top line was rookie Connor McMichael who has not played in a game for weeks.

The one positive we can take from this though is after practice, head coach Peter Laviolette was asked about if Ovechkin would play tonight in which he responded:

Alex Ovechkin will be a game-time decision vs. #Isles but the team won't take any risks. Sounds like he's not playing. Asked if Ovechkin would be ready for Game 1 of playoffs, Laviolette said, «I hope so. I don't know.»

#AllCaps coach Peter Laviolette says Alex Ovechkin will be a game-time decision vs. #Isles but the team won't take any risks. Sounds like he's not playing. Asked if Ovechkin would be ready for Game 1 of playoffs, Laviolette said, «I hope so. I don't know.»� Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) April 26, 2022

So take what you will from this announcement but if Ovechkin is a game-time decision for tonights game, I wouldn't be worried about him not being ready for playoffs.