Ovechkin back with Caps after dad dies
ARLINGTON, Va. — Alex Ovechkin is back with the Washington Capitals, eager to play hockey again while he and his family are still mourning the death of his father, Mikhail.
Ovechkin missed four games over the past week to fly to Moscow. He went straight from the airport to the team’s practice facility Wednesday after landing to take part in practice with an eye on returning to game action as soon as Thursday.
“Obviously it was a hard week mentally, physically,” Ovechkin said after skating for roughly 45 minutes to get his conditioning back. “It was probably toughest situation I’ve been through my whole NHL career. But it’s life, and we move on.”
Ovechkin thanked the Capitals for their moment of silence dedicated to Mikhail prior to a game last week and for the support shown by members of the organization and fans. He said he got the chance to speak to his dad by video call before his death at age 71 last week and expects his mother and brother to visit him in the U.S. soon.
“We try to do the best we can in that kind of hard moment,” Ovechkin said.
In his hard moment, Ovechkin wanted badly to get back on the ice. After only skating once during his absence, the 37-yearold captain said this season felt like training camp.
But there also wasn’t time to waste. The Capitals went 0-4 during Ovechkin’s absence and have lost five in a row in regulation for the first time in nine years.
“I just want to come back right away, put my mind in a different position,” Ovechkin said.
“We’re struggling right now, so I just want to try to do my best to bring energy, bring something to the team.”
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