That's D.C. Hockey Pilot Alex Ovechkin is officially back. The Washington Capitals captain is expected to make his return from a fractured left fibula on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, coach Spencer Carbery told reporters [https://x.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1873051932975350088] following the team's morning skate. Ovechkin broke his leg back on Nov. 18 against Utah Hockey Club in an incidental leg-on-leg collision with Jack McBain [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals/takes/washington-capitals-tom-wilson-unwritten-code-hockey-jack-mcbain]. He has been out the last 16 games for Washington, who went 10-5-1 without him in the mix. Getting the captain back will provide a major boost to the lineup, as the Capitals offense of late has been wavering with him on the injured reserve. "Nice boost... obviously, our 5-on-5 scoring has not been what it was when he was in the lineup," Dylan Strome said, adding, "I still feel like we played pretty good hockey and amnaged to keep our record at a good number. Nice to have him back and incorporate him back into teh power play, obviously, and figure out a way to start scoring some more." Ovechkin is expected to skate on the top line with Strome and Aliaksei Protas, while the rest of the forward lines are expected to revert to what they were before the 39-year-old's injury. Through 18 games this season, Ovechkin has 15 goals — which were the most in the league at the time of his injury — and 10 assists for 25 points, along with a plus/minus of plus-15. He's still one of the NHL leaders in high-danger shots per 60, and despite missing a good amount of time, remains on pace for 91 points. Ovechkin is also 27 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record and is still on pace to pass it this year.
