Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin practiced with his usual linemates on Friday and could return to play on Saturday when the team faces the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to ESPN.
Ovechkin, who fractured his left fibula in a collision with Utah forward Jack McBain on November 18, practiced alongside center Dylan Strome and winger Aliaksei Protas and took part in power-play drills during Friday’s session.
A final decision about his return will be made on Saturday. Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said he wants to see how Ovechkin responds to a full practice but mentioned that the 39-year-old captain is “trending the right way.”
The Capitals were in second place in the Eastern Conference as of Friday, having won 10 of the 15 games Ovechkin has missed—his longest absence due to injury in his career. His previous longest break was six games with an upper-body injury from November 4-14, 2009.
Before the injury, Ovechkin was on a hot streak, scoring two goals in the game against Utah and recording 13 goals in his last 11 games. He was leading the league with 15 goals in 18 games when he got hurt.
His chase for the all-time goal-scoring record was put on hold. With 868 career goals, Ovechkin needs 27 more to pass Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894.
Ovechkin already holds NHL records for career power-play goals (316) and shots on goal (6,690) after 1,444 games. In his 20 seasons in the NHL, the three-time Hart Trophy winner has missed only 50 games due to injury.
