Alex Ovechkin is taking a while away from the Capitals to take care of the demise of his father. (Getty)
Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin took to Instagram Wednesday to announce the demise of his father. Mikhail Ovechkin was 71.
“Today I misplaced my father,” Ovechkin’s publish reads. “I thank everybody for the help however please be understanding and don’t disturb my household on this troublesome time for us! Thank you.”
Popular Capitals weblog Russian Machine Never Breaks on Tuesday shared some background on the guts and well being points Mikhail has been coping with since 2014:
Ovechkin has at all times held a particular bond along with his father, who referred to as his son being drafted No. 1 total by the Capitals in 2004 his “most nice second,” in keeping with RMNB. Ovechkin additionally honoured his father throughout a soccer recreation with Dynamo Moscow final summer time, sporting the “No. 3” Mikhail wore all through his skilled soccer profession.
There has been no timeframe given for Ovechkin’s return.
Ovi left the group Tuesday to take care of a “household matter”
On Tuesday, the group introduced that Ovechkin can be taking a while away from the group to “attend to a household matter and the well being of a liked one.” Russian outlet Match TV reported that Mikhail required “pressing hospitalization” after falling unwell, including that the Capitals captain was returning to Moscow.
Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette doesn’t anticipate Ovechkin to be obtainable for the remainder of this week, and says the three-time Hart Trophy winner will likely be out for the “foreseeable future,” per Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press. Washington hosts the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday and the Florida Panthers on Thursday earlier than an out of doors highway matchup with the Hurricanes on Saturday as a part of the NHL’s Stadium Series.
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On the ice, Ovechkin has been having fun with one other terrific season in 2022-23. The 37-year-old has 32 targets and 54 factors in 54 video games and continues to chase Wayne Gretzky for the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring report. Ovechkin presently sits at 812 targets, simply 82 behind Gretzky’s 894.
Ovechkin made his ninth All-Star Game look earlier this month and gained the Breakaway Challenge on the abilities competitors alongside his son, Sergei, and Sidney Crosby.
The Capitals presently occupy the primary wild-card spot within the Eastern Conference with 62 factors, however their grip on a playoff spot is tenuous because the Panthers and New York Islanders are every on the skin with 60 factors.
Forward Joe Snively was referred to as up from the AHL’s Hershey Bears to take Ovechkin’s spot on the roster.
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