Day after hurting knee at Carolina, Ovechkin skates briefly before Caps practice

Injured Ovechkin skates before Capitals practice

ARLINGTON, Va. — Alex Ovechkin tested his right knee at the Washington Capitals practice facility Tuesday morning, a day after he was injured in a knee-to-knee hit against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The two-time reigning league MVP was on the ice in a red Capitals sweat suit about 25 minutes before the start of practice. He skated for less than five minutes, stretched his right leg and did not move at full speed. He handled a puck or two with his stick and departed for the locker room.

The Capitals were expected to discuss Ovechkin’s injury after practice.

Ovechkin was hurt in the first period Monday night when he knocked knees with Carolina’s Tim Gleason as the defenseman attempted to push the puck out of the Hurricanes’ zone. Ovechkin was 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.

It was Ovechkin’s second game misconduct penalty in the last three games. He was sent off for a boarding foul against the Buffalo Sabres last week.

Ovechkin leads the Capitals with 18 goals, 30 points and 44 penalty minutes.

Ovechkin missed six games this season with an upper body injury. Entering the season, he had only missed two games in his career because of injury.