Sizzling Ovechkin week-to-week with leg injury

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is week-to-week with an injury to his lower leg, the team said Tuesday.

Ovechkin will have further evaluation with team physicians in D.C. on Wednesday.

Ovechkin, 39, left Monday’s 6-2 victory against Utah after a collision with forward Jack McBain. Ovechkin had already scored twice in the game to move within 27 goals of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record of 894. Ovechkin now has 868 career goals.

The Capitals captain’s last shift ended at 5:30 of the third period. As Ovechkin and McBain turned towards a loose puck, their left knees collided. Ovechkin slid on the ice on his stomach in pain before being helped to the bench. He eventually took a twirl on the ice before limping to the trainers’ room.

“Yeah, that sucks. You hate to see it,” Capitals forward Nic Dowd said after the game. “He’s been absolutely on fire and huge for our team. He’s been playing incredible hockey.”

While the collision appeared accidental, Capitals forward Tom Wilson challenged and fought McBain later in the period.

The injury not only interrupts Ovechkin’s pursuit of Gretzky, but the best goal-scoring start of his career.

Ovechkin scored his 14th and 15th goals of the season on Monday, and he leads the NHL in goals for the first time since January 2022. It’s the highest number of goals he has scored in the first 18 games of a season. It was his 100th career multi-goal road game, which is 17 more than any other player in NHL history.

“He’s been phenomenal this year, leading the charge and our team, not only from a leadership standpoint and in the locker room, but on the ice as well,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said. “In times where you need these types of games, you need guys to step up and score or make a big play, he’s continued to do that.”

The Capitals have the second-highest points percentage in the Eastern Conference (.750).