Capitals' Alex Ovechkin misses practice with upper-body injury

ARLINGTON, Va. - Alex Ovechkin is nursing an upper-body injury.

The Washington Capitals forward missed practice Wednesday after the team returned from a West Coast road trip.

Coach Adam Oates says he thinks Ovechkin was hurt in the first period of Monday's loss to Vancouver. Ovechkin remained in the game.

Oates says Ovechkin is feeling "sore" but declined to elaborate on the nature of the injury, other to say it is not a concussion.

Oates says it's too early to say whether Ovechkin will play in the next game, Friday at Philadelphia.

Ovechkin has 10 goals, second in the league through Tuesday's games.

The Capitals also recalled centre Michael Latta and defenceman Dmitry Orlov from Hershey of the AHL and placed defenceman John Erskine on long-term injured reserve with an upper body injury.