CM – What Ovi Laviolette said after injuring himself last season

Alex Ovechkin doesn’t miss any time due to injury. When he sustained a lower body injury in the Capitals preseason finale on Friday, the future Hall of Famer was not happy.

With the Caps’ regular season opener on Wednesday night, Ovechkin’s injury left his status uncertain for the opening night. That was unacceptable to Ovechkin and he apparently told his coach right after his injury that he would be ready for the first game of the year.

« I went in and saw Ovi and he was just angry that it was happened, « said Peter Laviolette to the sports junkies on Wednesday morning. Just kind of irritated and he said, ‘I’ll be there, game 1, I’ll be there.’ There’s more to it than that. He went out yesterday, he skated, that’s a positive thing and I really think we’ll know more. I’ll know more when I get there [Wednesday] morning. « 

Ovechkin was a role model for consistency during his 16-year career with the Capitals. His quote » Russian machine never breaks « still sounds true 15 years later For now, however, Ovechkin’s availability for the opening night will be determined by the training staff, the injury is not considered serious and he has made progress after Tuesday practice but there is no reason to risk your best player like this Losing early for a long period of time.

« Ovi, ​​he wants to play every single game, » said Laviolette. « He wants to be on the ice, he loves the game. If there is a way to [play], he will. I think what has to happen is that the people who take care of him are going to look « on him and make sure he’s okay because it’s game 1 so there is no point taking a risk. » « 

With or without Ovechkin, the Capitals will open their regular 2021-22 season schedule against the Rangers at home from 7.30 p.m.

The reporting starts at 6.30 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington with Capitals Pregame Live and continues immediately after the game on Wednesday with Capitals Postgame Live.