Alex Ovechkin will not be joining the celebrations in Nashville this up coming weekend, as the Capitals have announced a lower-body injury will keep their captain out of the All-Star Game.
Alex Ovechkin will miss the NHL All-Star Game due to a lower-body injury
A lower-body injury will keep Ovechkin out of the festivities this weekend.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
WASH to announce Ovechkin to miss ASG with injury. He will not play first game back. Team felt strongly he needed rest, accepted penalty
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 28, 2016
This is the first time hearing of any injury to Ovechkin, who played just shy of 20 minutes in Wednesday's contest against the Flyers. Ovechkin was slated to be the captain of the Metropolitan Division team and was one of three Capitals selected for the game, along with forward Nicklas Backstrom and goaltender Braden Holtby.
Ovechkin might be clapped with a one-game penalty for missing the All-Star Game, due to the rules of the CBA that also punished Penguins captain Sidney Crosby last season when he backed out of the weekend.
The injury to Ovechkin may be genuine, but it’s not a surprise to see one of the league’s stars miss the game and take the penalty for some well-needed time off, especially considering the push the Capitals are making at the top of the standings.
Injury or not, it’s a disappointing blow to have one of the NHL’s biggest names sitting at home during a weekend designed to be a treat for fans across the league.
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