Alex Ovechkin was back practicing in a familiar red jersey on Friday. The Washington Capitals captain shed the light blue no-contact sweater he had previously worn the last couple of weeks and joined his teammates for their morning skate before matching up with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Ovechkin’s next step toward getting back into Washington’s lineup comes as no surprise after head coach Spencer Carbery indicated on Thursday that the big Russian winger was just days away from a return to action. Carbery ruled Ovechkin out of the contest against Carolina but would not do the same for the club’s back-to-back games against the Los Angeles Kings and Boston Bruins on Sunday and Monday.
The Great Eight was the first Capitals player on the ice on Friday and did some shooting drills with practice goaltender Parker Milner in net.
Alex Ovechkin is wearing a regular jersey at morning skate today. First practice sans no-contact jersey. pic.twitter.com/aGYEBmY7uw
— Katie Adler (@katieEadler) December 20, 2024
Washington’s 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this week was Ovechkin’s 13th game missed due to fracturing his left fibula against Utah HC on November 18. The 13-game absence is the longest consecutive period out of the lineup in Ovechkin’s career, and the Capitals have managed to stay afloat without him, posting an 8-4-1 record.
Carbery previously suggested that Ovechkin would need several full days of practice taking contact before being completely ready to return. He’ll have Friday’s morning skate and a regular full practice on Saturday before Washington’s 5 pm puck drop against the Kings on Sunday.
Love that color on you, Ovi pic.twitter.com/brFGivffrG
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 20, 2024
Monday’s game against the Bruins will mark exactly five weeks since he suffered the injury, falling right in the middle of the timeline the Capitals gave at the outset of his recovery process. Ovechkin had 25 points (15g, 10a) in 18 games when he left the Capitals’ lineup and is still tied for the team lead in goals.
Washington’s trip to Boston’s TD Garden is their last outing before a four-day break for the Christmas holiday. They’ll return on December 28, traveling to Toronto to play the Maple Leafs.