Alex Ovechkin Making Strides in Recovery with Capitals
Alex Ovechkin has recently participated in the Washington Capitals’ recent practice before their impressive 4-2 win against the Buffalo Bills last Saturday. While it is now much of a big deal for most fans, it is a huge leap in Ovechkin’s recovery after he has not played a single game for the team since November 18.
It can be remembered that Ovechkin fractured his left fibula in a November 18 game against the Utah Hockey Club. The forward would go on to miss big games for the Capitals, not suiting up for 11 games in a row as of the time of writing, which has certainly affected his shot of reaching and breaking Wayne Gretzky’s scoring record.
Still, there’s a lot of work to do for Ovechkin to fully recover and suit up once more for the Capitals. At the age of 39, it is definitely something to see him be expected to return to the team and help them stabilize their campaign for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. However, it will take some time before he will be eventually cleared to play.
Is Ovechkin Coming Close to a Return?
This is a promising development for Alex Ovechkin, who has been sidelined since November 18. Although it's been less than a month since the injury, Ovechkin made a major impact in the 18 games he played to start the season. He was on an incredible pace, scoring 15 goals and totaling 25 points—an electrifying start to his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goal-scoring record.
Ovechkin’s performance not only defies expectations for a player of his age, but it also keeps him on track to potentially catch Gretzky by season’s end, even after missing 10 games. With 26 goals to go before tying Gretzky's mark and just 27 to surpass it, Ovechkin remains within striking distance of making history. If he returns to the lineup before the holiday break, he’ll still have enough games left in the season to reach that coveted milestone of 895 career goals.
For the Washington Capitals, Ovechkin's return will be a significant boost to a team that has already established itself as a strong contender in the Eastern Conference. While Ovechkin’s early-season production played a key role in the team’s success, the Capitals have continued to perform well in his absence. The lineup, which has been bolstered by standout seasons from Dylan Strome, Aleksei Protas, and Tom Wilson, is deeper and more balanced than it’s been in years—reminiscent of the well-rounded squad that won the Stanley Cup in 2018.
Ovechkin's return would not only elevate the Capitals' chances for a deep playoff run but also bring them closer to the historic achievement of having the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer.
Chasing for the Goal Record
When Ovechkin sat out with an injury, he was the league’s leading scorer with 15 goals in 18 games. On top of that, he was already sitting at 868 goals – just 27 games away from passing Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 goals and even a few more games short of being the first to breach a total of 900 goals as well.
For now, being able to skate is a win, and so is being able to wear a non-contact jersey to begin with. It does seem that the Capitals can hope for the best for him to return right away – at least before 2024 ends and finally breach that scoring record now more than ever.
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