Capitals wait for word after Ovechkin leaves Carolina game with knee injury

Capitals await word on Ovechkin’s injury

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Washington Capitals are awaiting word on Alex Ovechkin’s injured right knee.

The two-time Hart Trophy winner was hurt in the first period of a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night.

“The first thing is, I’m hoping and I still hope it’s not too bad,” Washington goalie Jose Theodore said. “It’s never fun when you see the best player in the game and your best player down like this. You always worry about something really bad. When Alex is out, everybody’s got to pick it up. He’s a big part of this team.”

Team officials said during the game that Ovechkin’s knee was being evaluated overnight, and that any further information from them would come Tuesday morning.

“Anytime Alex is hurt, I’m concerned,” Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said. “He’s stiff right now, but I don’t know how long he’s going to be out if he’s going to be out at all. Tomorrow, you know, these things, the next morning you find out a bit more than you do now.”

The star left wing was injured with 7:55 left in the first period when he knocked knees with Carolina’s Tim Gleason as the defenseman attempted to push the puck out of the Hurricanes’ zone.

“Gleason made a good move, and he caught him with his knee,” Carolina coach Paul Maurice said. “However you want to define the play, it was dangerous for both players.”

Ovechkin was down on the ice for several minutes before he was helped off, grimacing while he was bent over at the waist. He was given a 5-minute major penalty for kneeing and a game misconduct.

Gleason also was helped to Carolina’s dressing room for an injury assessment, but he returned to the ice during the power play that followed Ovechkin’s penalty.

But even though they played 2½ periods without Ovechkin — who leads the Capitals with 18 goals, 30 points and 44 penalty minutes — the Capitals still had enough to take care of the worst team in the NHL.

Nicklas Backstrom had two goals and an assist, and Eric Fehr added a goal and an assist in the Capitals’ third straight victory. Joe Corvo and Matt Cullen scored goals and Eric Staal had two assists for Carolina, which lost its fifth in a row.

“(Ovechkin’s injury) was bad, of course,” Backstrom said. “He’s creating so many opportunities to score for us. But we found another way to win today, and we’re happy about it. When the best player goes out, it’s a challenge for the other guys.”