Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is predicted to overlook the following 4 to 6 weeks after sustaining a fractured left fibula, the group introduced Thursday.
The damage pauses Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL targets document.
On Tuesday, the Capitals had stated Ovechkin could be week-to-week with what was then described as a lower-body damage. He was anticipated to satisfy with group physicians Wednesday earlier than getting a extra full analysis.
The 39-year-old famous person left winger left the group’s 6-2 win Monday towards the Utah Hockey Membership after colliding with Utah ahead Jack McBain. With 14:30 remaining within the third interval, Ovechkin and McBain turned towards a unfastened puck earlier than their left knees linked with one another. Ovechkin dropped to the ice the place he was on his palms and a knee. He tried to stability himself to stand up however remained on the ice for a couple of extra seconds.
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A Capitals athletic coach got here onto the ice and helped escort Ovechkin, who appeared to have all his weight on his proper leg, again to the bench. As soon as Ovechkin was on the bench, he might be seen limping earlier than taking a seat. He ultimately went to the athletic trainers’ room to obtain remedy.
Whereas the collision seemed to be an accident, it led to Capitals ahead Tom Wilson difficult after which preventing McBain later within the interval.
Ovechkin’s damage not solely suspends his pursuit of Gretzky’s document, however it additionally comes amid the Capitals’ robust begin that would nonetheless see them attain the playoffs for a consecutive season. Ovechkin, who has 868 profession targets, is 24 targets shy of tying Gretzky’s document and was on tempo for what would have been a brand new profession excessive of 68 targets in a single season.
Previous to the damage, Ovechkin scored twice towards Utah for his 14th and fifteenth targets of the season. It is probably the most targets he has scored by his first 18 video games, and he continues to steer the NHL in targets for the primary time since January 2022. His two-goal sport towards Utah additionally marked his seventeenth multigoal street sport, which is 17 greater than every other participant in NHL historical past.
Getting into Thursday, the Capitals (13-4-1) have been second within the Metropolitan Division and have been some extent behind the Carolina Hurricanes for first place. If the preliminary four- to six-week timeline holds, the earliest Ovechkin might return could be Dec. 20 towards the Hurricanes.
