Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin skated Thursday as he continues his rehabilitation after suffering a fractured fibula.
The 39-year-old athlete wore his full kit. He has not played since being injured in a collision with Utah Hockey Club defenseman Jake McBain on November 18. Ovechkin was scheduled to be out for six weeks, with his return scheduled for late December or early January.
Ovechkin has scored 15 goals in his first 18 games and is only 27 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s mark of 894.
The Capitals sit in first place in the Metropolitan Division with a 17-6-2 record.
O’Reilly on the sidelines
The Nashville Predators will be without the services of their No. 1 center Ryan O’Reilly for a minimum of one week due to a lower body injury.
The Preds announced that O’Reilly’s condition will be re-evaluated on a weekly basis. The 33-year-old veteran reportedly suffered the injury during Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Like many Nashville skaters, O’Reilly was having a tough time in 2024-25, with 14 points (5-9) in 26 games, as well as a minus-13 differential.
Kane back in action
Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane will return to action tonight against the Ottawa Senators. He will replace Quebec striker Joseph Veleno in the lineup.
The 36-year-old American has 3 goals and 7 assists in 20 games since the start of the season, his 18th in the National Hockey League.
He had been sidelined since November 18 due to an upper body injury.
Hyman returns after 5 game absence
Forward Zach Hyman will return to the Edmonton Oilers lineup after missing his team’s last five games due to injury.
Hyman practiced Thursday as part of the top line and first power play unit. He scored 3 goals and collected 5 assists in 20 games this season.
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch, however, did not have details to give on the injury to forward Viktor Arvidsson. He has not played since November 12 and the nature of his injury has still not been revealed.
Arvidsson was limited to two goals and five points in 16 games in his first season in an Oilers uniform.
The Oilers will play 8 of their next 9 games at home.
Sabers recall defenseman
The Buffalo Sabers have recalled defenseman Ryan Johnson from their Rochester farm club in the American Hockey League.
Johnson had 7 assists in 41 games with the Sabers last season.
The announcement comes two days after Rasmus Dahlin left Tuesday night’s game against the Colorado Avalanche due to back spasms.
Furthermore, forward Sam Lafferty suffered a lower body injury on November 29. His state of health is reassessed weekly.
Varlamov bothered by injury
New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov has a lower body injury and his condition will be re-evaluated daily.
To replace him, the Islanders urgently recalled goaltender Marcus Hoberg.
Varlamov is 3-4-3 with a 2.65 goals-against average and .889 save percentage in 10 games since the start of the season.
Note that defenseman Adam Pelech skated with his teammates for the first time since he suffered an upper body injury on November 1.
