Before an hour-long Washington Capitals practice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, Alex Ovechkin and the team skated out to center ice for their team picture.
ARLINGTON, V.A. -- Before an hour-long Washington Capitals practice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, Alex Ovechkin and the team skated out to center ice for their team picture.
It was a tough photo to smile for with the team facing elimination on Tuesday, as a Florida Panthers or Pittsburgh Penguins win could mathematically put the Capitals out of playoff contention.
On the bright side, it gave Carl Hagelin a chance to return to the ice in full gear. The 34-year-old has had a rough go of it over the last year and change, as he lost partial vision in his eye due to a ruptured choroid, and then had two hip surgeries this season.
He took some time to skate a bit afterward, and then headed off. He did not skate at the practice or on his own.
Meanwhile, Connor Brown was absent. He suffered a torn ACL in the fourth game of the season, which ended his first campaign in D.C. Assistant manager of media relations Alex D'Agostino suited up in Brown's place and will serve as the placeholder while Brown's face is photoshopped in.
T.J. Oshie and Trevor van Riemsdyk, who are dealing with upper-body injuries, were also in the photo but did not practice. The two will not travel to Montreal as the team faces the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
Charlie Lindgren, who had a stomach bug, was back at practice and felt good. He will travel with the team to Montreal.