Alex Ovechkin 'Getting Real Close' For Capitals, Could Draw Back Into Lineup As Soon As Sunday

The Capitals captain wasn't ruled out for Sunday or Monday's games.

ARLINGTON, V.A. — It looks like a return to play is imminent for Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin.

Per coach Spencer Carbery, Ovechkin, who suffered a broken leg on Nov. 18 against Utah, is inching closer to drawing back into the lineup.

Though he won't play against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, he hasn't been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Kings or Monday's road showdown with the Boston Bruins.

"We'll sort of see how the next 48 hours go and see if there's a potential of him playing in one of those," Carbery said.

Ovechkin practiced again in a non-contact jersey on Thursday, joining the team for practice for the third time on his road to recovery. He was limited in what he could do, though he's expected to upgrade to contact either Friday or Saturday.

"I think tomorrow (he could upgrade to contact), it gets a little bit tricky with the lack of practice coming, but that would be the next step of them giving him the green light to take part in some drills where there's some resistance and some contact," Carbery said. "And if that were the case... even if it's a pregame skate, we've got some extras that we can get him int some of those scenarios just to make sure he feels comfortable."

Carbery wouldn't commit to any exact timetables or possibilities, but it does appear that Ovechkin's return is imminent.

"Gives him a couple days, gives him a chance," Carbery said of the plan for No. 8. "I'm not going to give a percentage or anything like that, but he's getting real close."

Getting Ovechkin back will be a major boost for Washington, who has been able to maintain a winning record with him out of the mix. Ovechkin had 15 goals through 18 games before his injury, putting him 27 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time record.