Capitals Face Challenge in Dealing With Ovechkin’s Absence

Good morning and happy Wednesday, February 15th.

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The Washington Capitals lost their first game after announcing that captain Alex Ovechkin will be gone at least the rest of this week to address a family matter and the health of a loved one.

The Capitals fell 3-2 to the Hurricanes Tuesday in the first of three games they play this week

"Life is tough,” Washington coach Peter Laviolette said. “When it comes to your family and parents, that's what matters. He's going to deal with some things right now and we're going to be supportive.”

The Capitals, understandably, don’t have an exact timetable for Ovechkin’s return.

“I don’t see him back in the foreseeable future,” Laviolette said.

Anthony Mantha replaced Ovechkin in Tuesday’s lineup. He didn’t play Sunday because of a non-COVID related illness. The Capitals also recalled Joe Snively for Hershey. He posted a goal and an assist vs. the Hurricanes.

Ovechkin is Washington’s captain and offensive catalyst. With 32 goals in 54 games, Ovechkin had a shot at his 10th 50-goal season.

In Ovechkin’s absence, the Capitals’ primary mission is holding onto the Capitals’ tenuous playoff position. After Tuesday’s loss, the Capitals hold the last wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. They are one point ahead of the New York Islanders and two in front of the Florida Panthers. The Caps are 4-6 in their last 10 games.

“I think first of all the most important thing is family, right?" Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom told NHL.com. "I understand what Ovi's going through, but I think for us as a team we're all aware of the situation and we're in a tough stretch coming up here, so teams are winning so we have to do that, too. We've got to chip in for each other and make sure we really start playing as a team here."

Ovechkin has only missed 49 games during his 18-season career and NHL.com reported the Capitals are 23-23-3 in those games.

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