Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin still sidelined with lower-body injury

The Washington Capitals were back on the ice Friday for training, and unfortunately for their fans, there was a noticeable absence.

Alex Ovechkin was not skating with the team, the Capitals said, a day after he suffered an injury.

Ovechkin left the ice on Thursday to be evaluated for a lower-body injury, according to the team.

The 40-year-old made history last season as he surpassed Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer.

The 2025-26 season will be the Russian’s 21st in the NHL. In that span, he’s recorded only one sub-30-goal season, which came in the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season.

In 1,491 games, Ovechkin has 1,623 career points.

The Capitals officially open their season on Oct. 8.