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NEW YORK -- Washington Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin will make his return to the lineup on Tuesday night in Madision Square Garden against the New York Rangers.Ovechkin, who is still tied for the NHL lead in goals with 14, missed six games over the last 15 days with what the Capitals termed an "upper body strain." His return is not just at one of the world's more famous arenas, but can be seen on VERSUS. In Ovechkin's three previous appearances on the league's national cable partner this season, he has a combined six goals and two assists. In his last five games at Madison Square Garden -- including last year's playoffs -- Ovechkin has four goals and four assists.
After the Capitals' morning skate at the Garden, Ovechkin was his typically playful self with a dozen reporters at his locker room stall, refusing to confirm his return to the lineup or specifically discuss his injury, believed to be a strained muscle near his left shoulder. But when asked if he was 100 percent, he said, "Probably, yeah." Ovechkin also said of his absence from the lineup, "It was pretty hard. I'm kind of excited to come back." Although his masked his prank with the media by saying, "I never joke with you guys," his ebullience and energy during the morning workout said it all.
Asked to confirm his star's lineup return, Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said, "I hope so," and then acknowledged that unless something went wrong with Ovechkin this afternoon -- like what, bad salmon at the team meal? -- the right wing would be back. Ovechkin has been lined up with center Nicklas Backstrom and left wing Chris Clark.
"When you've got the best player in the world, you miss him," said Boudreau. "By no stretch are we a better team without him. We want him in our lineup every night."
So at 7:00 Tuesday night, the league's most valuable and most dynamic player makes his return on one of the game's grandest stages. "I think Alex sort of likes that," said Boudreau.
Notes: The Capitals have recalled G Michal Neuvirth from Hershey (AHL), while Jose Theodore is away from the team tending to a personal matter. Semyon Varlamov will start for the Capitals, Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers. Washington will also be without veteran right wing Mike Knuble, who will be out 3-4 weeks with a broken finger. The Rangers are still shorthanded down the middle, with injuries to centers Chris Drury and Brandon Dubinsky.
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