Ovechkin expected to be ready for Capitals' regular-season opener

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Alex Ovechkin is expected to be ready for the Washington Capitals' regular-season opener on Oct. 2 (7 p.m. ET; HHN, CARNHL, MNMT, SN, TVAS), coach Spencer Carbery said Friday, as the Capitals captain continues his recovery from a lower-body injury, as long as there are no setbacks before then.

“It was a good sign,” Carbery said after the 41-year-old forward practiced Thursday. “Participated fully, didn't have to take any portions off, so that's a good step.”

Carbery said Ovechkin, the NHL record holder with 929 career goals, will not play in either of Washington's two remaining preseason games, against the Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena on Friday (7 p.m. ET; MNMT, NESNplus, SN1) or at the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

Ovechkin left practice after 15 minutes Wednesday after not skating the previous three days because of his injury. He has not played in any games this preseason.

Carbery said he doesn’t believe it’s essential for Ovechkin to play in the preseason.

“I don’t think so,” Carbery said. “Ideally, I guess if you ask me one or the other, I would say ‘yes’, but I don't think it's a real definitive (necessity) just because he's been through this so many times.”

Ovechkin similarly missed the first four games of the preseason a year ago because of a lower-body injury before returning for the final two. He went on to play all 82 regular-season games and led the Capitals with 32 goals and 64 points.

With training camp approximately a week shorter and the preseason shortened to four games as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, there is less time for Ovechkin to prepare for the opener.

But Carbery doesn’t think that will be an issue.

“I'm not worried,” the coach said. “At this point in his career, I'm pretty sure he knows what he needs to do to get up to speed for a season opener.”