Ovechkin back with Caps after dad’s death

Alex Ovechkin is back with the 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 last 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. “It was probably toughest situation I’ve been through my whole NHL career.”

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.

The Caps went 0-4 without their 37-year-old captain.

„ The Golden Knights traded four-time All-star defenseman Shea Weber and a 2023 fifth-round draft pick to the Coyotes for defenseman Dysin Mayo, 26, an AHL defenseman who was assigned to the Knights’ minor league affiliate. Weber, 37, has been on long-term IR since the Knights acquired him in June 2022 from the Canadiens. His last appearance in a game was July 2021, in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Lightning. He missed all of last season with injuries . ... Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin, 34, won’t play again this season after initially suffering a neck injury Oct. 17.

College basketball:

Alabama announced ahead of its game against South Carolina that leading scorer Brandon Miller remains an “active member” of the secondranked Crimson Tide and is not considered a suspect in a fatal shooting that took place near campus last month. An attorney for Miller said his client never handled the gun owned by ex-teammate Darius Miles. Miles is accused of providing his gun to Michael Davis, who fired it and killed Jamea Harris, prosecutors say.

NBA: The Warriors said star Stephen Curry is “making good progress” after missing the last five games due to a lower left leg injury. The two-time league MVP will be re-evaluated in one week.

Soccer: Host Leipzig earned a 1-1 draw against Manchester City in the first leg of a Champions League last 16 matchup. Also, Inter Milan earned a 1-0 win over visitor Porto, which saw its 22-match unbeaten streak end.