Alex Ovechkin Pushed to Play in Regular Season Finale to Prepare for Playoffs

Ovechkin pushed to play in finale to prepare for the playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

While the Boston Bruins were resting all of their stars, the Capitals' biggest star returned to the lineup on Tuesday. Alex Ovechkin returned from a lower-body injury for Tuesday's regular-season finale in his first significant game action since April 22.

Ovechkin fired four shots on goal and had nine total shot attempts on the night. He did not record a point against what was basically Boston's JV team, but that was not really what was important. What was important was testing out the legs and making sure there were no lingering issues from the injury.

Ovechkin tried to play on May 3 against the New York Rangers but came out after just 39 seconds when he could feel in his first shift that he was not quite ready.

Following Tuesday's game, there was no such worry.

“I feel great," Ovechkin said. "The trainers, all the staff did a great job. It was battle, a battle through that. I tried to play in New York, but I didn’t feel comfortable and, obviously, we don’t want to make a risk and that was a smart move. We were talking with [Laviolette] and [trainer Jason Serbus] and they wanted to be 100%. Right now, I’m 100%. I didn’t feel any soreness. I feel comfortable. That’s the most important thing."

This is unfamiliar territory for Ovechkin as he has missed more games in the 2021 season (11) than he has in any other season of his career. This recent injury kept him out seven games, not including his 39-second performance on May 3.

As with most players, missing time meant Ovechkin would need time to adjust and get his timing back which led to Laviolette dressing him in the season finale.

“I thought he was good," Laviolette said. "I thought it was really good for him to get out and play a game. He hasn’t played in a bit here. When he was cleared and deemed healthy, the conversation switched to which was more important? Getting the feel of the game and touching the puck and making plays or waiting, and I think the consensus was from everybody, especially Alex, that he wanted to get out there and play and get a feel for it. I thought it was good he got some work.”

The timing certainly looked a little bit off when it came to the one-timer, and Ovechkin was credited with two missed shot attempts. He also showed he needs more time to develop chemistry with Anthony Mantha, as the two have barely had a chance to work together since Mantha was acquired at the trade deadline. In one sequence, Ovechkin set Mantha up and Mantha gave the puck right back to him with an extra pass that caught Ovechkin off guard. Mantha is hardly the first player who feels compelled to defer most shots to Ovechkin, but that's something to work on.

There was nothing on the line in Tuesday's game. Regardless of the result, Washington would remain in second place and Boston would remain in third. Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy elected to sit all of his team's significant players as a result. Laviolette did not, and part of the reason was Ovechkin himself wanted to get back in order to prepare for the playoffs.

"It was important for me to get one game or two games before the playoffs start because it was a weird feeling for me to be in the press box, you know, watch the game and don’t help the team on the ice," Ovechkin said. "Obviously, thank God we were smart and we did the right things to don’t push it. Right now it’s an important time and you have to be ready and you have to be healthy.”

Ovechkin only got one game, but certainly made the most of it with 19:00 of ice time.

“There was really no restrictions," Laviolettte said. "He had three hard days on the ice. There was nothing going on. It’s been a long process and we tried to be patient with it but at some point he has got to worry about his game as well."

So while the Bruins rested players to prepare for the playoffs, for Ovechkin, it was important to get him as much time as possible to prepare for the playoffs.

Said Ovechkin, "This time of year, you have to be smart and you have to think about the future, not only regular season.”

Copyright RSN
Contact Us