Capitals say Alex Ovechkin is day to day with a lower-body injury

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Alex Ovechkin is day to day with a lower-body injury, less than two weeks before the Washington Capitals' season opener.

The NHL's career goal-scoring leader did not play in Washington's preseason opener against Boston on Sunday, and a team spokesman said Monday he did not practice with the non-game group either. The Capitals face Philadelphia in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on Monday night.

Their regular season starts Oct. 2 at Carolina.

The 41-year-old Ovechkin is back for his 22nd NHL season. He played all 82 games in 2025-26, scoring 32 goals with 32 assists.

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