Ovechkin will miss game Friday for Capitals

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin will miss his team's game Friday at the Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET, NHLN-US) due to an upper-body injury.

According to the team, Ovechkin was out skating early Thursday with injured defenseman John Erskine and strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish. He will not travel with the team, but coach Adam Oates told reporters Thursday that Ovechkin could return to the lineup for Saturday's home game against the Florida Panthers, reports Chuck Gormley of CSNWashington.com.

Oates confirmed Ovechkin's injury occurred early in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks when he crashed into goalie Roberto Luongo after being tripped by defenseman Alexander Edler.

This will be the first game Ovechkin misses due to injury since Feb. 22, 2012.

Ovechkin is second in the League with 10 goals, and his 15 points leads the team.

"He's obviously our key contributor and he's got a hot stick right now, so somebody else will have to step up and fill his spot," Capitals defenseman Mike Green told CSNWashington.com on Wednesday. "I don't know where's he's at. I think he's OK. I think this is more of a rest for him. We'll see."