Washington Capitals star left wing Alex Ovechkin left Sunday night’s home loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs with what the Capitals said was an upper-body injury.
Ovechkin, who is fourth in the NHL with 50 goals this season and third in the league all-time with 780, was hurt when he tripped over the goalie stick of Toronto’s Erik Kallgren after missing on a breakaway. Ovechkin slid into the end boards and left the ice in apparent pain and a possible shoulder injury.
A three-time Hart Trophy winner as the league’s most valuable player, the Russian star is in his 17th NHL season, all with the Capitals. His career high of 65 goals in a season came in 2007-08, his first Hart Trophy season, as did his best of 112 points.
Ovechkin, 36, has 90 points (50 goals, 40 assists) in 77 games this season. He went scoreless on Sunday.
The Capitals (44-23-12, 100 points) have already clinched a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. With their one point on Sunday, and Boston’s win over Montreal, the Capitals head into the final week of the regular season trailing the Bruins by three points for the top wild card.
–Field Level Media