Alex Ovechkin is set to return to the Washinton Capitals lineup after fracturing his left fibula five weeks ago, meaning his quest to break Wayne Gretzky's goal-scoring record continues.
Alex Ovechkin is set to return to the Washinton Capitals lineup after fracturing his left fibula five weeks ago, meaning his quest to break Wayne Gretzky's goal-scoring record continues.
After five weeks without captain Alex Ovechkin, the 39-year-old will return to the Washington Capitals lineup for Saturday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, per head coach Spencer Carbery.
The left winger suffered a fractured left fibula on Nov. 18 during a 6-2 over the Utah Hockey Club in a knee-on-knee collision with center Jack McBain. Ovechkin was helped off the ice and was expected to miss 4-6 weeks, but just seventeen days after suffering the injury, he was back to skating at practice with the Capitals.
Before his injury, Ovechkin was in red-hot form. In his last five games, he scored seven goals and nine points, including a pair of two-goal performances against St. Louis and Utah, as well as a hat trick in a win over Vegas.
At the time of his injury, Ovechkin was the league's top goalscorer with 15 tallies. There was a lot of traction and discussion about Ovechkin reaching Wayne Gretzky's goal record (894 career goals) before the end of the season.
The Russian's injury was a setback to the record chase and was a huge loss for the Capitals, who were second in the league and three points behind the Winnipeg Jets at that time.
However, the chase for Gretzky's goal record is back on. At just 27 goals away from surpassing Gretzky's total, the 'Great Eight' is still on pace to overtake the 'Great One' sometime this season.
In 18 games this season, he's potted 15 goals and recorded 10 helpers for 25 points. Despite missing 16 games, Ovechkin has the second most goals on the team behind Connor McMichael and is fifth in points.
Since losing Ovechkin, Washington mildly dropped in the standings to fourth place overall. Therefore, the Caps couldn't be happier to have their all-time top goalscorer join the team.
"Him being in the lineup, his presence, his infectious personality, demeanor, and him being on the ice whether it's power play, a faceoff, five-on-five, at any moment everybody in the building along with our 19 other players believe that he can score," Carbery said. "I think (it) lifts our entire group up and just him being back in the lineup is going to be a welcomed addition."
In 60 career games against the Maple Leafs, Ovechkin has 44 goals. He's also scored 24 goals in 29 games at Scotiabank Arena, where the Capitals will be during Ovechkin's return.
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