NHL Buzz: Ovechkin, Carlson practice, each day to day for Capitals

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Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin practiced Friday for the first time since he sustained a lower-body injury against the New York Islanders on April 22.
The forward, who has missed three games, was on the ice for about 30 minutes for the optional practice before leaving.
Ovechkin has yet to be cleared to play so it's unknown if he'll be in the lineup against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, NBCSWA, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV).
"It's great that he's out on the ice," Washington coach Peter Laviolette said. "I always say that's kind of the first sign or the first step to a way back to the lineup at some point. But at this point, he's day to day."
Ovechkin hasn't missed four straight games because of an injury since he sat out an NHL career-high six games with a shoulder injury Nov. 4-14, 2009. He leads Washington with 24 goals in 43 games and has scored 730 goals in 16 NHL seasons, one from tying Marcel Dionne for fifth in NHL history.
Defenseman John Carlson also participated in the optional practice after missing a 5-4 overtime loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday because of a lower-body injury. Carlson remained on the ice longer than Ovechkin, but it's unclear if he will return.
"It's the first step, so I don't have an answer for that," Laviolette said. "We'll move into tomorrow, but right now he's still listed as day to day."
The Capitals (32-13-5), who have clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, are tied for first in the MassMutual East Division with the Penguins. --Tom Gulitti

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New York Rangers

Brett Howden is out for the season because of a fractured foot.
The forward was injured in a 4-0 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday. He scored seven points (one goal, six assists) in 42 games.
Forward Chris Kreider (lower body) and defenseman Ryan Lindgren (upper body) did not practice Friday. Kreider did not play Thursday.
"As of right now, it doesn't look like long term," coach David Quinn said Friday. "It's day to day, so we hope that's the case."
Kreider has scored 30 points (20 goals, 10 assists) in 50 games this season; Lindgren has scored 16 points (one goal, 15 assists) in 51 games.
Quinn also said defenseman Jacob Trouba could play when the Rangers visit the Islanders on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+2, MSG, NHL.TV).
The defenseman has missed five games with an upper-body injury and has scored 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 38 games.
The Rangers (26-19-6) are fifth in the MassMutual East Division, six points behind the fourth-place Boston Bruins for the final Stanley Cup Playoff berth. The Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins have qualified from the division.-- Tracey Myers

Philadelphia Flyers

Shayne Gostisbehere could return to the lineup against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, MSG+, NHL.TV), after missing three games with a sprained MCL.
"I felt good out there," the defenseman said Friday. "That was my first practice with the boys. I felt good. I feel like I can be ready to go tomorrow so hopefully I'm in."
Gostisbehere last played against the New York Rangers on April 23.
"I just took a weird hit, was knee on knee, my knee hyperextended a little bit," he said. "It was a little sore MCL-wise. I'm happy it wasn't anything serious."
Gostisbehere skated in an optional practice Friday, the third straight day he was on the ice.
"He's been pushing himself hard and he said to [director of medical services] Jimmy [McCrossin] today before going on the ice that he felt real good," coach Alain Vigneault said. "I've been watching him skate here and I really expect him to be in the lineup tomorrow. He wants to play and he wants to help his teammates."
Vigneault also said forward Kevin Hayes, who was scratched from a 5-3 loss at the Devils on Thursday, would play Saturday.
The Flyers (22-21-7), who are sixth in the MassMutual East Division, were eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention on Thursday. -- Adam Kimelman