NHL Buzz: Ovechkin playing for Capitals against Bruins

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2020-21 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.

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Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin is playing for the Capitals in their regular-season finale against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday (NHLN, NBCSWA, NESNplus, NHL.TV).
Ovechkin missed seven of the prior eight games with a lower-body injury. The forward participated in an optional morning skate Tuesday and coach Peter Laviolette said playing a game before the Stanley Cup Playoffs would be beneficial.
The Capitals play Game 1 of the best-of-7 East Divsion First Round against the Bruins on Saturday.
"For a player that hasn't gotten it, hasn't been out there, it's important for them to get some game time," Laviolette said. "Oftentimes, the guys that are really good with the puck or have a skill set -- his is handling the puck, shooting the puck -- I think the game reps are really important. But again, it can't be at the expense of a player that's not at 100 percent. So that's kind of where we're at today. We're evaluating him as he gets off the ice, evaluating him today. But we're not going to hold back a player that's 100 percent."
Forward Nicklas Backstrom played after missing a 2-1 overtime win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday with a lower-body injury. Defenseman John Carlson (lower body) and forward T.J. Oshie (lower body) were scratched. Forward Evgeny Kuznetsov and goalie Ilya Samsonov remain unavailable while in NHL COVID-19 protocol.
Ovechkin missed four games before returning to play one shift in a 6-3 win against the New York Rangers on May 3 and has missed three games since then. The 35-year-old led Washington with 24 goals in 44 games and at 730 NHL goals was one from tying Marcel Dionne for fifth in NHL history. -- Tom Gulitti

Boston Bruins

Ondrej Kase did not play when the Bruins visited the Washington Capitals in their regular-season finale (NHLN, NBCSWA, NESNplus, NHL.TV) but Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said Tuesday it's not because the forward had sustained an injury in his return to the lineup, a 3-2 overtime win against the New York Islanders on Monday.
Kase left the game late in the second period after playing 6:49. The Bruins announced it was an upper-body injury, causing concern for a player who had been out since Jan. 16 with a concussion.
"I don't think so. I think there was a little bit of conditioning with him," Cassidy said. "His first game in a long time. That's what I was told. He just didn't feel like he was getting through it where he needed to be, so he let the training staff know. They decided to say, OK, well let's cut it short tonight."
Kase missed 52 games prior to returning against the Islanders. He did not score a point in three games this season.
Cassidy said he was encouraged by the way Kase played Monday and that there were positive signs for the forward.
The Bruins, who will be the No. 3 seed in the East Divison playoffs and play the No. 2 seed Capitals in the first round starting Saturday, rested regulars Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, Taylor Hall, David Krejci, Craig Smith, Sean Kuraly, Charlie Coyle, Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grzelcyk, Mike Reilly, Brandon Carlo, Jeremy Lauzon, Kevan Miller and Tuukka Rask against the Capitals. -- Amalie Benjamin