The Capitals could get their captain back in the mix as soon as tonight.
It looks like the Washington Capitals could be getting closer to getting their back in the mix, as Alex Ovechkin made more progress on Thursday and will be a game-time decision once again. However, the team still faces several questions about their lineup as they prepare for the St. Louis Blues.
Head coach Spencer Carbery shared the latest on Ovechkin after he took part in the optional morning skate, telling reporters that he will be a game-time decision for the sixth straight contest. Ovechkin has missed the last three games due to a lower-body injury that he has been dealing with for some time.
Per Carbery, that ailment is not related to the collision he had with Jordan Staal on Jan. 5, which appeared to aggravate things for No. 8.
Regardless, the 38-year-old has been making progress in his recovery, taking part in the last three practices. And at Thursday's optional morning skate, he took another step forward by taking part in power-play reps, per NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.
"I think we'll see how he feels today. We got some lineup things to work through today so there will be a lot of question marks tonight," Carbery told reporters.
Besides Ovechkin, the Capitals are waiting on the status of two more skaters, as Beck Malenstyn and Joel Edmundson are questionable, per Carbery. Malenstyn did not skate and is dealing with a personal matter, while Edmundson did skate and is dealing with an undisclosed ailment. Malenstyn and his wife are expecting their first child this month.
Puck drop is at 7 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena.