Alex Ovechkin Out Due To Father’s Death
Wednesday, the Washington Capital’s captain announced the death of his father Mikhail Ovechkin.
Photo Via Washington Capitals on Twitter
Tuesday general manager Brian MacLellan announced prior to the team’s morning skate that captain Alex Ovechkin would not be playing in their game against the Carolina Hurricanes due to a family matter.
Ovechkin flew home to Russia on Tuesday due to his father’s failing health, and on Wednesday he announced his father’s death via an Instagram post.
Ovechkin will likely miss the Capitals’ game on Thursday against the Florida Panthers and the Stadium Series game on Saturday. There is no news yet as to when the captain is expected to return, but head coach Peter Laviolette commented that Ovechkin would not be back for the foreseeable future.
Ovechkin has only missed 48 games in his 18-year NHL career. Of those 48 games, the Capitals have lost 25. Currently sitting at 5th in the Metropolitan division after their 3-2 loss to the Hurricanes on Tuesday, the Capitals have a difficult road ahead of them to qualify for the 2023 playoffs.
With key players, Ovechkin, right-winger Tom Wilson, center Nic Dowd and defenseman John Carlsson missing from the lineup, the Capitals called up Joe Snively from the Hershey Bears. During Tuesday night's game against the Hurricanes, Snively assisted on the first goal and then scored his first goal of the year.
The Capitals will certainly struggle without their captain, but they stand behind him completely and send their support to him during this difficult time.
