The Washington Capitals announced that Alex Ovechkin will be out week-to-week with a lower-body injury on Tuesday. For the first time in his 20-season career, Ovechkin will be out a decent chunk of time due to what appears to be a significant injury.
With Ovechkin out, the Capitals will not only be without their on-ice leader but also the NHL’s league leader in goals and the most prolific scorer (sorry, Wayne) in NHL history.
As pointed out by @capstrav1s and others online, Ovechkin appears set to join Nicklas Backstrom (hip) and TJ Oshie (back) on injured reserve — three members of Washington’s leadership group and Stanley Cup championship team in 2018.
Together, the three players have recorded staggering numbers during their careers, posting 1,441 goals and 3,303 points combined. The Caps will also be without 3,359 games of experience on the ice. Ovechkin is the leading goal-scorer in franchise history, while Backstrom has the most career assists.
| Player | Games | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Ovechkin | 1,444 | 868 | 707 | 1,575 |
| Nicklas Backstrom | 1,105 | 271 | 762 | 1,033 |
| TJ Oshie | 1,010 | 302 | 393 | 695 |
| Total | 3,559 | 1,441 | 1,862 | 3,303 |
The trio also formed one of the most dominant lines in franchise history, as Backstrom centered Ovechkin on the left and Oshie on the right.
If you include Sonny Milano, who is also out week-to-week, the Capitals are without a staggering 3,440 career points.
