Despite getting blown out on Saturday, Capitals reinforcements expected to play on Sunday
Photo credit: Japers' Rink
The Capitals will look to move on right away after suffering an embarrassing 7-0 loss to the Blue Jakcets this afternoon in Columbus.
Despite missing Saturday afternoon's game in Columbus, Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin and starting goaltender Logan Thompson skated today and is expected to make a return in Sunday's divisional rematch.
Alex Ovechkin was absent for the 76th game of his career, and 17th of the 2024-25 season on Saturday, as the Capitals' captain didn't make the trip to Columbus for their matchup against the Blue Jackets.
Chris Cerullo of RMNB writes that the 39-year-old winger didn't take the full day off. Per ESPN's Emily Kaplan, Ovechkin skated with injured goaltender Logan Thompson back home at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.
«It's been a lot for [Ovechkin], a lot of people in town staying at his house from Russia for the festivities. So, he is actually going to get on the ice today with Logan Thompson." -Kaplan
Thompson is making progress in his recovery. The expectation is that Ovechkin will play tomorrow at home, while Thompson will most likely play on the road in one of the final two games of the regular season.
«If he's not feeling 100 percent, they're not going to push their captain because they want him to be fully rested for the playoffs. Remember, this team has already locked up the number-one seed in the East.» -Kaplan
The Capitals will face the Blue Jackets again on Sunday, this time at home, to wrap up their home-and-home back-to-back. They'll then close out the regular season with road games against the New York Islanders on Tuesday and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
Cerullo writes that after breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record last Sunday, Ovechkin and the Caps seem to have chosen rest over trying to pursue another 50-goal season or the 900-goal mark this year.
"Ovechkin's skating partner, Thompson, is skating for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury against the Carolina Hurricanes on April 2. He has missed the past four games after being pulled from that game to start the second period. -Cerullo
The Calgary native has compiled an impressive 31-6-6 record this season, along with a 2.49 goals-against average, a .910 save percentage, and two shutouts. However, before his injury, Thompson struggled in recent outings-losing 6 of his last 15 games while recording a 3.05 GAA and a .888 save percentage.
With Thompson sidelined, Hunter Shepard was called up from the AHL's Hershey Bears and got the start on Saturday in Columbus, where he allowed six goals on just 16 shots over two periods.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 12 | 35 ANSWERS Despite getting blown out on Saturday, Capitals reinforcements expected to play on Sunday Will capitals captain Alex Ovechkin play in Sunday's game against the Blue Jackets? | ||
| yes | 29 | 82.9 % |
| no | 6 | 17.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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