Capitals' Ovechkin to miss game vs. Sharks

Tuesday, 10.13.2015 / 7:30 PM NHL.com

Alex Ovechkin is not playing for the Washington Capitals on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks because of personal reasons, the Capitals said.

The Capitals captain had one goal and one assist in a 5-3 season-opening win Saturday against the New Jersey Devils.

Forward Stanislav Galiev, who made his NHL debut playing two games for the Capitals last season, took Ovechkin's spot on the top line in practice according to The Washington Post. However, coach Barry Trotz said it's unlikely Galiev would remain there if Ovechkin didn't play.

"We'll move lines around," Trotz said in a video posted at Monumentalnetwork.com.

Ovechkin has been extremely durable over the course of his career. He missed one game last season, and in his first 10 seasons he's missed more than four games once.

Ovechkin did not attend the morning skate.

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