Alex Ovechkin was back on the ice for a brief stretch Wednesday, but the Washington Capitals shut him down early after he didn’t feel right while working through a lower-body injury.
The captain opened practice with Group A after missing the previous two days and getting a day off, then left after only a few reps. Ivan Miroshnichenko stepped into Ovechkin’s spot on the top line alongside Dylan Strome and Ryan Leonard.
“Didn't quite feel right to practice today,” coach Spencer Carbery said of Ovechkin. “He came out and gave it a try, but we just want to be cautious with it at this point. Not pushing it.”
Ovechkin is listed as day-to-day, and Carbery said he does not expect the issue to carry into the start of the regular season.
“Him being out there and practicing is a pretty big indicator that it's not too serious,” Carbery added. “It's not wanting to push it if it's not quite 100 percent at this point before the season.”
The 41-year-old is entering his 22nd NHL season after signing a one-year extension in July. Last season, he led Washington in scoring with 32 goals and 64 points in 82 games. He also sits 11 goals shy of passing Wayne Gretzky for the most combined goals in NHL history.
The Capitals will keep watching his status as camp moves forward and will determine whether he gets into either of the final two preseason games on Friday and Saturday.
Washington opens the regular season on Oct. 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
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