NHL notebook: For whom the alarm clock tolls? Not Ovechkin, who sits out a game for sleeping in

ARLINGTON, VA.— Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin said he overslept and missed the morning skate Tuesday, and that’s why coach Barry Trotz made him sit out that night’s game against San Jose Sharks.

The Capitals said Tuesday that Ovechkin missed the game due to “personal reasons.” Ovechkin spoke to reporters after Wednesday’s practice, saying he made a mistake setting his alarm clock.

He set the alarm clock for 8:30 p.m. instead of a.m., which caused him to oversleep and arrive at the arena late. Ovechkin said Trotz then told the Capitals captain he would not play in the game for violating team rules.

“I just messed up with my alarm clock . . . made a mistake,” Ovechkin said. “We talked. We have a conversation. It’s (the) rules.”

Trotz said he understood what happened, but the rules are the rules.

“It was an honest mistake,” Trotz said. “But we have certain accountability rules, and everyone’s accountable in that room.”

Hurting Flames: Another significant injury to start the season has Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley shuffling his lineup again.

The loss of rugged winger Lance Bouma to a broken bone in his leg means alteration up front for the Flames, who are 1-2 heading into two ballyhooed games in as many nights.

The Winnipeg Jets (3-1) get the Flames for their home opener Friday followed by Calgary at home to Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers (0-3) on Saturday.

Bouma underwent surgery Wednesday on a broken left fibula suffered in the previous night’s 4-3 loss at home to the St. Louis Blues.

The 25-year-old from Provost, Alta., who scored a career-high 16 goals and 34 points for Calgary last season, is expected to be sidelined at least three months. Bouma signed a threeyear contract extension with the Flames in July.

The Flames also lost top defenceman T.J. Brodie (broken hand) and winger Joe Colborne (broken thumb) to their injuries in pre-season games. Colborne is week-to-week and Brodie is “not that close yet,” to a return, said Hartley.

Bouma led Calgary forwards in hits (264) and blocked shots (82) last season.

Sam Bennett, the 19-year-old forward who has been groomed at centre to start his rookie campaign, returned to his former position on Mikael Backlund’s line in Wednesday’s practice.