Ovechkin A Game-Time Decision For Capitals vs. Ducks, Blue Line Tweaks As Alexeyev Returns

The Capitals captain took part in the team's morning skate on Tuesday.

ARLINGTON, V.A. – The Washington Capitals will again wait and see if Alex Ovechkin will be in the lineup on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks, as the captain is a game-time decision for the fifth consecutive game.

Ovechkin, who has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, took part in the team's morning skate and stayed on the entire time, but did not take power-play reps and was one of the first players off the. Hendrix Lapierre did not stay on for the scratches' skate, indicating that he will be in again if Ovechkin can't go.

The 38-year-old was hurt back on Jan. 5 when he collided with Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal and took the brunt of the collision to the back of his left leg. played through two game-time decisions, but did not play in this past week's home-and-home series against the New York Rangers.

Ovechkin leads Washington in scoring with 27 points in 39 games, and he has points in his last six games, so getting him back would be a boost for D.C. However, with the team three points out of a Wild Card spot, having him healthy for this second half is vital.

Meanwhile, Alex Alexeyev will finally draw back into the lineup with head coach Spencer Carbery making some changes on defense.

Alexeyev will return to the lineup for the first time since Nov. 24, ending a 24-game stretch of healthy scratches. Trevor van Riemsdyk will be the odd man out and stayed on for extra work to close out Tuesday's morning skate.

"He hasn't played in a long time. He's working his butt off every single day, and he's been a tremendous person (and) teammate continuing to bide his time and wait for his opportunity," Carbery said of Alexeyev. "We felt like he's earned that to get back into the lineup tonight."

The 24-year-old has appeared in 10 games for the Capitals this season, picking up one goal, 11 hits and five blocks, along with a plus/minus rating of minus-1.