Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin leaves Monday’s game vs. Utah HC with lower-body injury

Washington Capitals’ forward Alex Ovechkin left Monday’s game against Utah Hockey Club with a lower-body injury.

The incident occurred late in the third period when Ovechkin made knee-on-knee contact with Utah HC forward Jack McBain. The winger would leave the bench and go to the dressing room, not returning for the rest of the game.

The Capitals would end up winning 6-2. They’ve won three straight and are now 13-4-1 and lead the Metropolitan Division. Their next game is Thursday when they host the Colorado Avalanche.

Earlier in the game, Ovechkin tied Jaromir Jagr’s all-time record for most goalies scored on during their NHL career with 178, putting the puck past Connor Ingram in the first period.

The 39-year-old winger would score again in the second period, one-timing a shot from the point with a two-man advantage, giving the Caps a 4-1 lead.

With the two goals Monday, Ovechkin now has a league-leading 15 goals, along with 10 assists for 25 points.

Ovechkin now has 868 goals, 26 short of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record for the most in NHL history. He also has 707 assists for 1,575 total points, 13th on the all-time list. Ovechkin is just four points shy of passing Ray Bourque for 12th.

Ovechkin has won the Hart Trophy three times, the Ted Lindsay Award three times, 12 NHL All-Star Games and the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy an NHL-record nine times. He helped the Capitals win their first Stanley Cup championship in 2018, where he also won the Conn Smythe Trophy.