Alex Ovechkin is ‘getting real close’ to return from fractured fibula, could play as soon as Sunday

   

The Washington Capitals could get an early Christmas present as Alex Ovechkin gets closer to making his return from a fractured fibula. While Ovechkin continued to participate in a no-contact jersey during the Caps’ practice Thursday morning, head coach Spencer Carbery indicated he may be just days away from being ready to play.

“(Ovechkin) practiced in a limited fashion with the group,” Carbery said of Ovechkin. “Won’t play tomorrow and then we’ll see how the next 48 hours go and see if there’s a potential of him playing in one of those [games against] LA or Boston.”

Ovechkin did some drills with the team Thursday morning, but spent the majority of time working individually. He was spotted doing shooting drills with Capitals’ skills coach Kenny McCudden and shooting on practice goaltender Parker Milner.

He also did some light stick-handling work.

Before he can return to play, Ovechkin will need to shed his no-contact jersey, with Carbery previously suggesting he may need several practices with contact before returning to game action. The Capitals will hold an optional morning skate Friday and a full practice Saturday, giving Ovechkin several opportunities to practice as a full participant if he is cleared for contact. The team will then play back-to-back games against the LA Kings and Boston Bruins on Sunday and Monday. The Capitals currently have a full 23-man roster, meaning they will have to send a player down to remain under the roster limit upon Ovechkin’s return.

“I think tomorrow it gets a little bit tricky with the lack of practice time, but that would be the next step of them giving him the green light to take part in some drills where there’s some resistance and some contact,” Carbery said. “And if that were the case, then we could get him into — even if it’s a pregame skate, we’ve got some extras that we can get him into some of those scenarios, just to make sure everything checks out okay and feels comfortable, and then practice day Saturday. So it gives him a couple days that give him a chance. I’m not going to give a percentage or anything like that, but he’s getting real close.”

Ovechkin has missed 13 games since fracturing his fibula on November 18, marking the longest absence of his NHL career. And while the Caps have gone 8-4-1 in his absence, they’re all-too-ready to get their captain back on the ice.

“I think it’ll help for a number of reasons,” Carbery said. “Obviously, as our captain. I’ve talked a lot about his leadership, energy, enthusiasm, him being around. I think it just gives a little bit — for our room, our bench, in game — gives not just a jolt of, he just has such a presence, but I also think a little bit of a calming effect as well. Could really help us right now at the point we’re at in the year. So those parts and on the ice too, we’ve missed him a little bit, especially of late. From a scoring sample, we’ve gone a little bit dry. And he, I found at the beginning of the year when he was out there, and especially when he’s scoring, I mean it’s sort of an obvious statement that when he’s scoring, guys feel really good.

“But I also do think there’s a part that, when he’s out there and there’s the potential of him shooting it in the back of the net or getting a scoring chance, you can call me crazy but I feel like it helps our other guys when they get in shooting and scoring situations that they [think], ‘O will find a way to get one tonight.’ Or, ‘He’s going to shoot it past this goaltender. He’s going to soften this goaltender up for us.’ So the scoring threat, I think, is huge for our team because you can tell we’re gripping it a little bit right now and we’re getting into some scoring situations and they’re not falling for us consistently right now.”

Lars Eller was the only Capitals player to miss practice, opting to take a maintenance day.