• NHL Gallery

Ovechkin has missed six games because of an upper body injury, believed to
be a left shoulder strain. He entered Tuesday tied for the NHL lead with 14
goals despite playing only 14 games.
Ovechkin says he’s excited to play again.
“It’s going to be a pretty cool moment for me,” he says.
Ovechkin got hurt against Columbus on Nov. 1. The Southeast Division-leading
Capitals have won four of six games since he was hurt.
“Unless something negative happens this afternoon and I don’t get the OK
from (trainer Greg Smith) to play him, then I think he would be back,” Capitals
coach Bruce Boudreau said.
However, the Capitals will be without goalie Jose Theodore(notes), who returned
home because of a personal matter.
Semyon Varlamov(notes), who played well against the Rangers in last season’s
playoffs when the Capitals erased a 3-1 series deficit in the first round to
advance, will start in goal at New York on Tuesday night. Washington recalled
Michal Neuvirth(notes) from Hershey of the AHL on Tuesday to be Varlamov’s backup.
Varlamov is 6-1 in his past seven outings with a 2.09 goals against average.
One other injury question mark for Washington is the status of forward David
Steckel, who was struck in the foot by a puck during practice on Monday. The
Capitals recalled center Jay Beagle(notes) on Tuesday in case Steckel is unable to
play.
Boudreau said Steckel’s availability would be a game-time decision.
The Capitals are already without forwards Mike Knuble(notes) (broken finger), Boyd
Gordon(notes) (back), and defenseman Milan Jurcina(notes) (lower body). Knuble has missed one
game and is expected to be sidelined for 3 to 4 weeks. Jurcina will miss his
third game.