Is Alex Ovechkin playing tonight? Injury details, return date, latest news on Capitals captain

The Capitals could be without their captain for a second consecutive game. 

Alex Ovechkin is considered a game-time decision for Tuesday night’s game against the Avalanche in Colorado. The winger missed his first game of the season on Saturday, Jan. 21 against the Golden Knights in what the team called a lower-body injury. 

The Great 8 is in the midst of another excellent season. In 48 games, Ovechkin is up to 30 goals and 52 points, both of which rank first on Washington. He also leads the team in power play goals with nine. 

Ovechkin’s ailment is just another on the long list for the Capitals. Washington has been dealing with injuries for the entirety of the season. Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson missed most of the first half of the year, and John Carlson and T.J. Oshie are still out. 

MORE: How close is Alex Ovechkin to breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record

Here are the latest updates on Ovechkin’s injury. 

What is Alex Ovechkin’s injury?

Ovechkin’s exact injury is unknown at this point, other than that it is a lower-body injury. 

Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said that Ovechkin felt something at morning skate ahead of the Capitals’ Saturday game against the Golden Knights and he decided to take him out. 

“There is always things that are going on with players,” Laviolette said. “Alex is usually really durable but this is something that he wasn’t able to skate this morning and it took him out of the lineup tonight.”

It was the first game of the season that Ovechkin has missed. 

When will Alex Ovechkin return?

After missing the Saturday game, Ovechkin is considered to be day-to-day. 

The captain skated during the Capitals’ practice on Monday and also took part in the team’s optional skate Tuesday morning, both good signs for a potential return soon. 

Positive sign seeing ⁦@ovi8⁩ on the ice before ⁦@Capitals⁩ practice today in Denver pic.twitter.com/vAz0LGglqd

— Al Koken (@RealSmokinAl) January 23, 2023

Laviolette said that Ovechkin would be a “game-time decision” for Tuesday’s game against the Avalanche. 

Alex Ovechkin stats 2022-23

Ovechkin continues to defy Father Time, as the Russian sniper is on pace for another 50-goal season. He’s up to 30 goals so far this year and if he hits 50 again, it would be the 10th time in his career he has hit that mark in a season. 

Ovi’s 30 goals put him in the top 10 in the league and his 52 points put him right outside the top 20.