WASHINGTON: Alex Ovechkin skipped the Washington Capitals presidential finale against Philadelphia on Friday night after the team called a lower body injury.
Ovechkin first collided with Flyers forward Travis Konkenny in the middle of the period and then went into the ice. The Washington captain was slow to get up and skated on his own without putting much weight on his left foot.
The 36-year-old went down the tunnel instead of being on the bench and missed the rest of the period. The team announced at the first intermission that Ovechkin would not return.
I think both teams want to touch the wood, get out of this healthy,” said coach Alain Vignoault, whose flyers hit the ground. “It starts next week for real.
The Capitals are already hoping to start the season without top center Niklas Backstrom due to a hip injury. Backstrom hasn’t skated at all during training camp.
Ovechkin is starting a $47.5 million, five-year contract and sits behind Marcel Dion in fifth place on the list of NHL career goals. He is 164 behind Wayne Gretzky for the record.
The Russian winger has shown remarkable stability throughout his career, especially in light of his injury-prone style. Ovechkin missed seven of the last eight matches last season, which took him longer than he has missed in the previous 10 years combined.
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