Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin will be out of the game for the next four to six weeks due to a broken left fibula, the team announced. This injury will temporarily halt Ovechkin’s quest to break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record.
During Monday’s game against the Utah Hockey Club, Ovechkin collided with Utah forward Jack McBain, resulting in the injury. Although the collision seemed accidental, it led to a confrontation between Capitals forward Tom Wilson and McBain, culminating in a fight.
Ovechkin, who currently has 868 career goals, was just 26 goals away from tying Gretzky’s record. He was also on track to potentially achieve a career-high of 68 goals in a single season, having already scored 15 goals in the first 18 games of the season. His performance against Utah marked his 17th multi-goal road game, a record in NHL history.
The Capitals, with a record of 13-4-1, are currently second in the Metropolitan Division, trailing behind the Carolina Hurricanes. Ovechkin’s absence will undoubtedly impact the team’s performance as they strive to secure a spot in the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
If the recovery timeline remains accurate, Ovechkin could potentially return to the game on December 20 against the Hurricanes. Until then, the Capitals will need to adjust their strategies and lineups to compensate for the absence of their star player. Fans will be eagerly awaiting Ovechkin’s return to the ice as he continues his remarkable career in pursuit of hockey greatness.