NHL Status Report: Ovechkin may miss preseason games

Welcome to the NHL Status Report. Training camp is underway and NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.

Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin may not play in the preseason for the Capitals because of a lower-body injury.

The 41-year-old left wing did not practice Monday for the second straight day and is day to day.

Ovechkin, who is beginning his 22nd NHL season, has been practicing on a line with Dylan Strome and Ryan Leonard in training camp.

Washington coach Spencer Carbery wasn't ready to say if Ovechkin will play at all in the preseason.

"Right now, we'll see how it goes this week," Carbery said. "We'll be off tomorrow and then we'll come back and have two practice days, so I'll be able to give you a more accurate update (after that) on when we see him play and how many games."

The Capitals have two preseason games remaining, at home against the Boston Bruins on Friday and at Philadelphia on Saturday.

New York Islanders

Semyon Varlamov will make his first NHL appearance since Nov. 29, 2024, when the Islanders visit the New York Rangers on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; MSGSN, MSG). 

The 38-year-old has missed significant time after undergoing two partial knee replacements. 

"I'm excited to play tonight," Varlamov said. "I'm looking forward to going on the ice and playing in this game. I'm very excited. It's about that time of the year."

Varlamov played in two games for Bridgeport of the American Hockey League at the end of last season.

"It's been quite a journey for him," DeBoer said. "He got in those American League games at the end of last year, so it's not like it's his first game action, but first game action at the NHL level after a long rehab. I'm really excited for him."

DeBoer said the plan was for Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin to split Tuesday's game, with each getting a full game to end the preseason.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Forwards Justin Brazeau and Ben Kindel are each day to day with lower-body injuries sustained in a 4-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.  Brazeau had two shots in 14:29 of ice time and Kindel had one shot on goal in 6:13 of ice time. Ville Koivunen won't play against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; NESNplus, NBCSP+). ... The forward is day to day with an upper-body injury.

St. Louis Blues

Tyler Tucker tweaked his knee in practice on Sunday and may not be ready for the season opener, Blues coach Jim Montgomery said Monday.

The defenseman was working in a drill in the corner when the injury occurred and limped off the ice. Tucker did not skate Monday.

"It's more than day to day, but we don't have a timeline yet because we think he'll be re-evaluated in a couple days," Montgomery said.

St. Louis plays its regular-season opener at Dallas on Oct. 2 (9 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT).

If Tucker isn't ready, it could create an opening for defenseman Adam Jiricek, a first-round pick (No. 16) in the 2024 NHL Draft.