CAPS OVI DAY-TO-DAY, LAVIOLETTE SAYS, MAY BE PLAY WEDNESDAY

By Peter Gleason

Caps coach Peter Laviolette said yesterday Alex Ovechkin’s lower-body injury is not a long-term issue and that it was possible he could play in Wednesday’s opener against the New York Rangers.

“He’s day-to-day right now,” Laviolette said. “I don’t think it’s a long-term thing. So we’ll just take it day by day.”

Ovechkin was injured in the first period of Friday’s preseason finale when his leg was caught awkwardly in a hit on Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny. Ovechkin skated off under his own power, but immediately left down the tunnel and did not return to the game.

Ovechkin did not practice on Sunday, but did watch from the bench for a few minutes. There was no brace on his leg or knee and he appeared to be walking normally without a limp.

Laviolette would not rule Ovechkin out for Wednesday’s game saying only that it was “possible” he could return in time.