With playoffs looming, Alex Ovechkin to miss second-straight game Thursday with upper-body injury

The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin in four days, and Alex Ovechkin isn’t healthy.

But it may not be time to panic … yet. 

According to multiple reports, Capitals coach Peter Laviolette told reporters Thursday morning that the superstar winger will miss his second straight game Thursday with an upper-body injury. But Ovechkin did participate in the team’s morning skate Thursday — a good sign about his status for the postseason, which begins Monday. 

Ovechkin also missed Tuesday’s game after he suffered an upper-body injury during the Capitals’ overtime loss to the Maple Leafs on Sunday. He tripped over Toronto goaltender Erik Kallgren’s stick and crashed into the boards. His left shoulder was the first part of his body to make contact with the boards, causing him to lie on the ice in pain for a brief moment. He was listed as day-to-day and hasn’t played since.

Alex Ovechkin to the dressing room after going awkwardly into the boards pic.twitter.com/E7FWMvU3Cx

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) April 25, 2022

A 36-year-old missing a few games because of an injury shouldn’t be a rare occurrence, but it is for Ovechkin. The 17-year veteran has missed only 45 games in his career since debuting in 2005. He has never missed a playoff game.

On Tuesday, Laviolette said he didn’t know whether Ovechkin would be healthy in time for the start of the playoffs next week. 

“I want to say I hope so, but I don’t know,” Laviolette said. “It depends on how things progress with him, so it’s day to day right now.”

The Capitals (44-24-12) will play either the top-seeded Florida Panthers or Metropolitan Division foe New York Rangers in the first round. With two games remaining in the regular season, Washington is one point behind the Penguins, who only have their Friday finale remaining on the schedule. The Capitals end their season Friday against the Rangers.