Ovechkin Week-To-Week With Upper Body Strain

Monday, November 2, 2009

By Michelle Scalise, report by Lisa Hillary
CSNwashington.com


Lisa Hillary Reports on the latest news from Kettler

Alex Ovechkin is predicted to miss the game against New Jersey tomorrow and the team has determined that his status is week-to-week.  His injury is being labeled as an "upper-body strain."

Lisa Hillary reported from Kettler Capitals Iceplex that the Capitals did not practice this morning but Ovechkin showed up at the Capitals practice facility around 10:30 am with his father for treatment. 

The all-star forward went inside while his father waited outside.  Ovechkin had on a tee shirt and jeans and did not have on any bandages or appear to be in any pain.

Approximately 50 minutes later, the head athletic trainer appeared and escorted Ovechkin's father, Mikail, into Kettler.

Shortly thereafter, his father re-appeared, without Ovechkin and drove off.

Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau indicated Monday that Ovechkin could miss Wednesday's game at New Jersey but could return for the home-and-home against Florida on Friday and Saturday.

"I would venture to guess that he's more probable for the weekend than he is for Wednesday," Boudreau said.

Boudreau did not give much other detail about the injury, which forced Ovechkin to leave in the second period of Sunday's overtime loss to Columbus.   He played only 7:43 if the game and Ovechkin appeared to hurt his left shoulder or left arm during a scrum that started when he was bumped by Jason Chimera and responded with a shove.  He did not return to the ice after the incident.

The team confirms that Ovechkin was examined and treated by the team’s medical staff and underwent an MRI exam on Monday.

Brooks Laich was also at the practice facility and jokingly told Lisa "Yes, I saw Ovie inside and he was doing push-ups."

This will be only the fifth game the dynamite forward is expected to miss in the five years of his professional career.  He has only missed two games because of injury.

Ovechkin led the league in goals (14) and points (23) through Sunday's games. Boudreau said the team will have to make major changes without its best offensive player.

“We have to buckle down,” head coach Bruce Boudreau said earlier Monday. “A goal a game he scores, so we got to play better defense and cannot allow four or five goals a game. You have to win 3-1 and 2-1 and if you get lucky sometimes make it a 4-2 game. I think we have enough character players who understand what we will have to do without Alex.”