The Washington Capitals announced Thursday evening that further tests on a leg injury to team captain Alex Ovechkin revealed a fracture in his left fibula. The 39-year old franchise great, who has been placed on injured reserve, is now expected to miss four-to-six weeks recovering.
Ovechkin was injured Monday night in the Capitals’ game against Utah after a shin-to-shin collision with Jack McBain, going down in pain and then attempting to skate things off before exiting the game. Initially, Ovechkin had been listed as week-to-week with his injury before further testing. In his 19th season, the 39-year old from Moscow has proven remarkably durable throughout his NHL career, as he had missed just 35 games due to injury prior to this incident.
Ovechkin leads the NHL with 15 goals scored over his first 18 games, which had put him well on pace to break Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 894 goals. He is up to 868 career goals and needs 27 more to surpass Gretzky and cement his legacy as one of the NHL’s greatest scorers ever.
The Capitals will now have to carry on without Ovechkin for the foreseeable future, as they will continue their season Thursday night against the Colorado Avalanche.
Washington Capitals fans received some disappointing news recently as star player Alex Ovechkin will be sidelined for the next 4-6 weeks due to a fractured left fibula. The injury occurred during a game against the New York Rangers when Ovechkin collided with an opposing player and fell awkwardly on his leg.
Ovechkin, who is known for his scoring prowess and physical style of play, will be sorely missed by the Capitals during his absence. The team will have to find a way to fill the void left by their captain and leading goal scorer.
This injury comes at a crucial time for the Capitals as they are currently in the midst of a tight playoff race in the Metropolitan Division. Ovechkin’s absence will undoubtedly have an impact on the team’s performance and their chances of making a deep playoff run.
In the meantime, Ovechkin will undergo treatment and rehabilitation to ensure a full recovery before returning to the ice. The Capitals medical staff will closely monitor his progress and provide updates on his condition as he works towards getting back to full strength.
Despite this setback, Capitals fans can take solace in the fact that Ovechkin is a resilient player who has overcome injuries in the past. His determination and work ethic will undoubtedly help him make a speedy recovery and return to the ice stronger than ever.
In the meantime, the Capitals will have to rely on their depth and other players to step up in Ovechkin’s absence. It will be a challenging few weeks for the team, but they have proven in the past that they are capable of overcoming adversity and finding ways to win games without their star player.
As fans eagerly await Ovechkin’s return, they can take comfort in knowing that their beloved captain is doing everything in his power to get back on the ice and help lead the Capitals to success.
