Ovechkin plays for Capitals after clearing NHL COVID-19 protocol
Forward returns against Blue Jackets, out for following game at Canadiens
Ovechkin took part in the morning skate after he didn't participate in an optional practice Monday. He had a positive COVID-19 test last Wednesday that caused him to miss a 5-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers that day and the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas.
"I have five days off. I'm rested. I feel good," Ovechkin said. "So obviously, right now, in this month we don't have lots of games. We're going to have lots of days off. So it's time to work for your conditioning, work in the gym, get more power for your body and get ready for the rest of the season."
Ovechkin cannot travel with Washington for its game at the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday because Quebec requires a 10-day isolation period for those who test positive for COVID-19. Ovechkin said he was asymptomatic.
With 29 goals in 46 games this season, Ovechkin was one from scoring 30 for the 16th time in his 17 NHL seasons. That would move him within one season of Mike Gartner's NHL record.
With 759 goals, Ovechkin was seven behind Jaromir Jagr (766) for third in NHL history. After passing Jagr, a native of the Czech Republic, Ovechkin, who is Russia-born, would trail Gordie Howe (801 goals) and Wayne Gretzky (894), who are Canada-born.
"Yeah, it will be great," Ovechkin said last month. "I'm going to be No. 1 of all the European players who played in the NHL. So it's going be a big milestone, a big number."
Ovechkin's pursuit of Howe for second likely will carry into next season, but he said he considers himself "lucky to be in this company already." The Capitals captain climbed from sixth to fourth in NHL history this season by passing Marcel Dionne (731 goals) and Brett Hull (754).
Ovechkin, who was on pace to score 51 goals this season, can become the oldest 50-goal scorer in NHL history. He'd surpass Johnny Bucyk, who scored his 50th with the Boston Bruins in 1970-71 when he was 35 years, 308 days old.
It would be Ovechkin's ninth 50-goal season and tie the NHL record shared by Gretzky and Mike Bossy.
Ovechkin, who will be 36 years, 225 days old when the regular season ends April 29, also could become the oldest player to lead the NHL in goals, surpassing Bill Cook, who was 36 years, 165 days old when he did it with the New York Rangers in 1932-33. Ovechkin trails Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers (33 goals) and Leon Draisaitl of Edmonton Oilers (32) trying to lead the NHL in goals for the 10th time, increasing his NHL-record total.
With 58 points, Ovechkin was six behind Florida Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau for the NHL lead and was on pace to score 102, which would be his most since he scored 109 in 2009-10.
"It seems like he's been doing it for so long and he just keeps doing it," Draisaitl said at All-Star Weekend. "It's so impressive and, truly, kind of fun to be a part of this generation and being able to witness it is pretty cool."
Ovechkin laughed at the suggestion last week that he is among the older players in the NHL now, but there was a clear reverence for him among those at All-Star Weekend and disappointment that he was unable to attend. Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews, who was two ahead of Ovechkin with 31 goals and has scored 230 in the NHL, marveled about Ovechkin scoring 759.
"That's a lot of goals," Matthews said. "When you really take a step back and realize how many goals he's [scored] and where he's at in history with everybody and how close he is to Gretzky, if you really take a step back and look at it, it's ridiculous."
Ovechkin has established himself among the front-runners to win the Hart Trophy voted as the most valuable player in the NHL. Despite dealing with injuries and illnesses, including center Nicklas Backstrom (hip, COVID-19 protocol, flu) missing 33 of the first 36 games, the Capitals were fourth in the Metropolitan Division and solidly in a Stanley Cup Playoff spot in the Eastern Conference thanks in large part to Ovechkin, who scored or assisted on 36.7 percent of their 150 goals.
Ovechkin also led Capitals forwards averaging 21:51 in ice time, up from 19:30 last season and his most since he averaged an NHL career-high 23:00 in 2008-09.
"He was certainly one of those guys that from the way he started the year and the points that he put up, he gave us a chance to win hockey games and stay in there when we had a lot of guys missing," Laviolette said.
Ovechkin has won the Hart Trophy three times (2007-08, 2008-09, 2012-13) and would be the oldest player to win the award, unseating Herb Gardiner, who won the Hart in 1926-27 with the Montreal Canadiens (35 years, 322 days).
The other player to win the Hart at 35 or older was Eddie Shore with the Boston Bruins in 1937-38 (35 years, 115 days).
"He's done it for so long and really hasn't shown signs of slowing down," Kreider said of Ovechkin. "He's so difficult to play against. … He's been a real thorn in our sides, to say the least, for a long time, and unfortunately it doesn't seem like it's going to change anytime soon."
Ovechkin's teammates say what he wants most is another Stanley Cup championship. Ovechkin helped Washington win the Cup for the first time in 2018, but it hasn't won a playoff series since.
"He's such a competitive guy," Capitals forward Tom Wilson said. "Every night he has that emotion and passion to want to win, and then when it gets to the playoffs, it's heightened even more so. … It was a fun time when we won, and I don't think he shies away from that either. Hopefully we can get back there and share another big run here."
