Is Alex Ovechkin playing tonight against Maple Leafs? Capitals make big call on captain's return

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin will make his long-awaited return to the lineup in Toronto tonight against the Maple Leafs. Head coach Spencer Carbery announced the news to the media in his pregame media availability.

The superstar winger has been sidelined for the last 16 games after a collision with Utah's Jack McBain that broke Ovechkin's fibula. The Capitals thrived in his absence to the tune of a 10-5-1 record, which has them second in the Metropolitan division three points behind the New Jersey Devils.

Alex Ovechkin was off to a blazing hot start to his 2024-25 season. The Great 8 had ripped home 15 goals in his first 18 games along with 10 assists good for 25 points in that span. His 15 goals led the league at the time of his injury and he was on pace for 68 goals which would've been a career-best at age 39.

Ovechkin now sits at 868 career goals, just 26 shy of Wayne Gretzky's 894. With 48 games left on the schedule for the Capitals, Ovi needs to score at a 0.542 goal-per-game clip to tie the Great One, and a 0.563 rate to surpass him.

It was a shame to see Alex Ovechkin go down in the midst of his chase for greatness. The Washington Capitals and NHL fans around the world are certainly all excited to see the Great 8 continue his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky.

Alex Ovechkin's former coach Bruce Boudreau put his Washington Capitals on the nice list for Christmas

Former coach of Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, now TSN hockey analyst Bruce Boudreau had some nice things to say about his former team in a recent segment on Sportscentre.

Boudreau created his own "nice list" at the Christmas break mark of the NHL season. The Washington Capitals were on the nice list for their success with Ovechkin on the shelf.

"So William Nylander is No. 1 for me, No. 2 on the 'nice list' has got to be the Washington Capitals, and they're doing this without their leading goal scorer back in the lineup," Boudreau said. "So I mean, I got to give Washington Capitals and their staff and everybody else great kudos for being where they are."

It certainly has been impressive to see how well Washington has played this season with and without their captain.

The Capitals are in Toronto tonight to battle the Maple Leafs in the return of their captain and best player Alex Ovechkin. The puck drops at 7 p.m. EST.