Ovechkin skips Capitals practice

Thursday’s game between Vancouver and Chicago was not finished in time for this edition.

The Washington Post

WASHINGTON — Washington Capitals star left wing Alex Ovechkin missed Thursday’s practice, the team’s first since clinching a trip to the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday night.

Coach Bruce Boudreau and Ovechkin both said he was simply taking a second straight day off skating to rest and recover from a physical first-round series against the New York Rangers. But the fact that Ovechkin was the only player not on the ice for a strategy-intensive session led to speculation that the reigning MVP could be nursing an injury.

“He’ll be practicing tomorrow, OK?” Boudreau said. “Sometimes his body gets beat up because he plays so much. He just plays a lot. So he needs a little bit more rest than other guys. So he’s just resting today.”

Asked why he did not practice, Ovechkin smiled and said: “Just take more day[s] off.”