Alex Ovechkin injury update: Capitals ‘don’t know’ if captain will be ready for playoffs

Alex Ovechkin has been listed as day to day with an upper-body injury, the Capitals announced on Monday. 

Washington’s captain fell awkwardly into the boards in the third period of Sunday’s game against Toronto while coming down on a breakaway. As he tried to shoot a backhand by Maple Leafs goaltender Erik Kallgren, he was tripped by Kallgren’s stick and went into the boards shoulder-first. 

Ovechkin immediately reached for his left shoulder and left the game. He did not return as Washington went on to lose 4-3 in a shootout. 

Alex Ovechkin will not return to tonight’s game after falling awkwardly into the boards. pic.twitter.com/KaWf8Jorg5

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 25, 2022

The news that he’s day to day provides Capitals fans with a sigh of relief. It did not look good in real time and with the playoffs right around the corner, losing Ovechkin for the rest of the season would have been a big blow to Washington’s chances at a Stanley Cup. 

Ovechkin is first on the team in points with 90 and goals with 50. His 40 assists are third behind John Carlson (54) and Evgeny Kuznetsov (53). 

MORE: When do the NHL playoffs start? Key dates, schedule, TV channels & more to know 

The team has three games left in the regular season with its next matchup on Tuesday against the Islanders. The Capitals have already clinched a playoff spot, currently sitting as the second Wild Card team. However, they are one point behind Penguins for the third spot in the Metropolitan, as well as three points behind the Bruins for the first Wild Card. 

How long is Alex Ovechkin out?

“Day to day” is an extremely vague timetable, so when Ovechkin might return is unknown at the moment. 

It’s likely that Washington will hold out Ovechkin for the remainder of the regular season out of precaution, but coach Peter Laviolette said he would be a “game-time decision” against the Islanders even though he didn’t participate in Tuesday’s morning skate.

Laviolette on Ovechkin: “Alex is day to day, and I think we’re going to evaluate it and do the best thing for Alex. It’ll be a game-time decision, but there will be nothing that we jump into if we don’t need to or if it’s not right.”

— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) April 26, 2022

Asked whether he was optimistic Ovechkin would be ready for the playoff opener, Laviolette told reporters: “I want to say I hope so, but I don’t know. It depends on how things progress with him, so it’s day to day right now.”

Washington is currently facing a first-round matchup with the Panthers, the top team in the Eastern Conference. The Capitals are going to need their captain as healthy as possible if they want a chance to upset one of the best teams in the league.