8 Alex Ovechkin LW

Ovechkin (undisclosed) did not participate in Friday's practice session and will be a game-time decision for Saturday's matinee matchup with the Devils, Samantha Pell of The Washington Post reports.

Ovechkin's absence Friday was explained as a "maintenance day", but it's apparent that something is bothering the "Russian Machine" to the extent that he may miss some time. The 35-year-old is a critical cog in Washington's offense and even a short absence would be a significant loss for the Capitals and fantasy managers alike.

Ovechkin recorded a power-play assist, four shots and two hits during Thursday's 5-2 win over the Penguins.

Ovechkin is running a tad cold by his lofty standards, having managed just one goal and four points in his last seven games. The 35-year-old has been an elite fantasy producer for more than a decade and continues to garner a heavy workload, so the conditions are there for the reigning Rocket Richard Trophy winner to heat up again before too long.

Ovechkin and Washington's game versus Philadelphia on Tuesday has been postponed, Frank Seravalli of TSN.ca reports.

The Capitals' games against Buffalo on Thursday and Saturday have already been postponed, so Ovi will have to wait for Sunday's clash with Pittsburgh for his next opportunity to build on the five goals and 12 points he's already amassed through eight games this campaign.

Ovechkin and the Capitals won't play the Sabres on Thursday or Sunday after the two games were postponed, the NHL announced Monday.

The Capitals will still be in action versus the Flyers on Tuesday, but then will have several days off following the postponement of the Buffalo games. In addition, the schedule change will break up an upcoming back-to-back, which would have had the Caps playing the Sabres on Saturday followed by the Penguins on Sunday.

Ovechkin scored two goals, one on the power play, and added two assists in Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Flyers.

The Caps' top line of Ovie, Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson got almost no help from the rest of the roster in this one, as Lars Eller's assist was the only point produced by a Washington player outside of that trio. Ovechkin has four multi-point performances in eight games to begin the season, and overall he's racked up five goals and 12 points.

Ovechkin scored once on a game-high seven shots in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Rangers.

Ovechkin took sole possession of seventh on the all-time goals list while seeing 27:17 of ice time, as he was double-shifted with Washington dressing only 11 forwards and seven defensemen. He was stymied by countryman Igor Shesterkin for most of the night, though Ovie managed to beat the Rangers netminder in the third period after a clean faceoff win by Nicklas Backstrom. Ovechkin has three goals in seven games this season, along with five assists.

Ovechkin tallied the game-winning goal and added a power-play assist, three shots and five hits during Saturday's 4-3 overtime win against the Bruins.

Ovechkin missed the previous four contests while in COVID-19 protocol, but he picked up right where he left off. The 35-year-old winger has managed two goals and seven points -- along with 16 shots and 18 hits -- in five games, so keep him cemented in your lineup.

Ovechkin scored his 708th career goal, tying Mike Gartner for seventh all-time, in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win over Boston. The goal was the game winner.

He also added an assist. Ovie scored on a wrister from the high slot; it was his 24th overtime goal, which adds to his own record. This was Ovechkin's first game back after missing four due to COVID-19 protocol and he played just 14:24. He didn't play the final 6:50 of the third period, so he was fresh to start the overtime and didn't waste time with the goal. It came 28 seconds in. Phil Esposito is next on the list with 717.

Ovechkin (coach's decision) will play in Saturday's game against the Bruins, Samantha Pell of The Washington Post reports.

Ovechkin was a game-time decision after being lifted from the league's COVID-19 protocol. The 35-year-old won't be held out any longer, as he's set to make his first appearance since Jan. 19. Ovechkin started the year hot with a goal and four assists through the first four contests.

Ovechkin (coach's decision) will be a game-time call for Saturday's matchup with Boston, JJ Regan of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Ovechkin has been removed from the NHL's COVID-19 protocols list and skated on the Capitals' second line and first power-play unit during morning skate, but coach Peter Laviolette may be worried about the Russian sniper's conditioning following his extended absence. Confirmation on Ovi's status against the Bruins should surface once Washington takes the ice for pregame warmups.

Per Samantha Pell of The Washington Post, Ovechkin has been removed from the NHL's COVID-19 protocols list, making him eligible to return Saturday against the Bruins.

Ovechkin has missed the Capitals' last four games while quarantining, but he'll return to his usual featured role for Saturday's clash with Boston. The 35-year-old sniper has picked up one goal and four assists through four games this campaign.

Ovechkin (COVID-19 protocols) remains out for precautionary reasons and is considered day-to-day, Samantha Pell of The Washington Post reports.

Head coach Peter Laviolette indicated that Ovechkin and teammates Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov and Ilya Samsonov would be out a minimum of four games and their continued absence raises questions about whether that will extend to a fifth game when Washington tussles with the Bruins on Saturday. Check back for further updates before puck drop.

Ovechkin (COVID-19 protocols) will be unavailable for Washington's next four games after entering quarantine, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.

While coach Peter Laviolette wouldn't commit to any of the four players under protocol returning as soon as available, it's hard to imagine Ovechkin being left out of the lineup if available. Through the first four games of the year, the Russian winger has tallied one goal on 13 shots and four assists. Without Ovechkin, Jakub Vrana will be the most likely player to jump up to the first line with Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson.

Ovechkin was placed in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol Wednesday, Samantha Pell of The Washington Post reports.

Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov and Ilya Samsonov were all placed into the league's COVID-19 protocol. This doesn't mean that Ovechkin has tested positive for the virus, but he's at least being monitored as a possible close contact. The Capitals' next scheduled game is Friday against the Sabres. Ovechkin is trending in the wrong direction for that contest.

Ovechkin scored his first goal of the season and added an assist in Sunday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Penguins. He also had six shots and four hits.

Ovechkin banged home a loose puck on top of the crease to give Washington a 2-1 lead in the latter stages of the first period. He also drew the second assist on Nicklas Backstrom's power-play goal in the middle stanza. The 35-year-old is off to yet another fast start with four points through three games and shows no signs of slowing down after last year's 48-goal performance.

Ovechkin put up two assists in Thursday's 6-4 win over the Sabres.

Ovechkin remains a man on a mission to try to break the NHL goal record, but on Thursday, the sniper played disher instead. One of the apples came on the power play. Even at 35, Ovechkin remains a first-round fantasy talent and autoplay.

Ovechkin scored twice on four shots in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Islanders in Game 4. He added three hits and two PIM.

It was vintage Ovechkin in the latter half of the game. The future Hall of Famer unleashed a rocket of a one-timer on the power play in the second period, tying the game at 2-2. Then he beat Semyon Varlamov with a wrister from the right faceoff dot to give the Capitals the lead just under four minutes into the final frame. It might be too little, too late for Washington, which trails the series 3-1, but Ovechkin has busted out with four goals and an assist over the last three games.

Ovechkin scored both goals in Friday's 5-2 loss to the Islanders in Game 2.

An odd bounce in the first minute of the game came to Ovechkin, who used his backhand to beat Semyon Varlamov for the early lead. The superstar winger added another tally in the second, but his goals were the extent of the Capitals' offense. Those were his first two points in five playoff games, but he's added 22 shots on goal and 22 hits. Ovechkin will look to carry his newfound momentum into Sunday's Game 3.

Ovechkin was held off the scoresheet against the Flyers on Thursday and has no points in two games so far this postseason.

Ovie tied for the NHL lead with 48 goals in the regular season, but he has been largely been invisible so far. Sure, there's not much to play for in the round robin, but the Caps need more from their captain. They have just three goals in two games.

Ovechkin ended the 2019-20 regular season with 48 goals and 67 points in 68 games.

Ovechkin and Boston's David Pastrnak both finished with 48 goals and will share the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy for the season goal-scoring title. The 34-year-old is one of the greatest goal-scorers of all time with 706 career strikes on his resume, and though he was below a point-per-game pace and accumulated a paltry minus-12 rating, he should once again be one of the first wingers off the board when fantasy play resumes for the 2020-21 season.