One superstar returns, another inches closer to getting back into game action.
The Washington Capitals will have their captain in the lineup on Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena, as Alex Ovechkin will play after missing the past 16 games with a broken leg.
Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews was on the ice on Saturday morning, taking part in Toronto’s optional skate and looking a little more like his usual self.
Matthews will miss his fourth game in a row with a recurring upper-body injury that caused him to miss nine games in November, but there appears to be game light at the end of the tunnel for the 27-year-old.
“He has been on the ice the last couple of days, so he’s making really good progress which is great, and he’s feeling a lot better,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said.
There’s no target date yet for Matthews’ first game back. After Saturday, the Leafs will practise on Monday before playing host to the New York Islanders on Tuesday afternoon in the first match of a home-and-home set that concludes on Thursday on Long Island.
Ovechkin was a little coy with media, saying “I think so, but we will see,” when he was asked whether he would play against the Leafs. A few minutes later, Capitals coach Spencer Carbery confirmed that Ovechkin will suit up for the first time since Nov. 18, when he was hurt during a game against the Utah Hockey Club.
In 60 career games against the Leafs, Ovechkin has 44 of his 868 career goals. He has scored more against only Atlanta/Winnipeg (55), Carolina (51), Philadelphia (50) and Tampa Bay (50).
“Right now, it doesn’t matter,” Ovechkin said, regarding why he might like playing against the Leafs. “I just want to come back and play hockey. It’s hard, you work out, watch the games. You always want to help your teammates win.”
The Capitals were 10-5-1 in the 16 games that Ovechkin missed, and he will resume his run at breaking Wayne Gretzky’s National Hockey League record for most goals. Ovechkin needs 27 goals to break Gretzky’s mark of 894.
“Sensational,” Berube said of Ovechkin’s career. “I always found … he’s always in a good mood out there and enjoying the game. Watching him afar, whether I’m coaching or watching him, he really loves the game and loves to score goals.
“You can be right on him and he gets a stick on that puck, it can go in … we have to be on him, we have to be tight to him.”
Ovechkin had 15 goals in 18 games before he was hurt; the Capitals have 48 games remaining.
“He’s an amazing player and one of the greatest of all time,” Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev said. “Tonight, we’re going to focus on trying to stop him and we will see how that goes.
“He’s the second-best shooter right now and potentially will have the most goals. You don’t want to give him shots and opportunity in the scoring areas. It takes all five guys to help out and have good sticks and know where he is all the time.”
Matt Murray will start in net for Toronto. Logan Thompson is expected to start for Washington.
X: @koshtorontosun