What Happened
Alex Ovechkin said Wednesday he will be ready to play when the Washington Capitals open the season Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The winger missed all of Washington's pre-season games because of a lower-body injury but has been a full participant in practice since last Thursday. Ovechkin said he expects the first couple of games could be hard after limited training, but added that he feels fine.
Key Details
- Ovechkin missed every Capitals pre-season game with a lower-body injury.
- He returned to full practice participation last Thursday.
- The season opener is Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes.
- Ovechkin is on a one-year, $4.25 million contract after weighing retirement.
- He had 32 goals and 64 points in 82 games last season.
- Washington plays Carolina and Tampa Bay in a back-to-back to open the schedule.
What It Means
Ovechkin's availability matters for a Washington team that missed the playoffs by three points last season. The Capitals open against the defending Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes, so a healthy Ovechkin gives them their top scorer for a difficult early schedule. He dealt with a similar issue before last season and still played all 82 games.
What's Next
The Capitals host Carolina on Friday, then face Tampa Bay in the second half of a back-to-back. Ovechkin said the opening stretch will be a challenge for Washington.