Ovechkin “Week-to-Week”

The injuries just keep on coming.

Here’s the team release from Caps.com:

Washington Capitals left wing suffered an upper-body strain in Sunday evening’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets and his status is week-to-week, the team determined Monday.

Ovechkin, the NHL leader in points (23) and goals (14) and the league’s Second Star of the Month for October, is expected to miss the fifth game of his five-year career on Wednesday at New Jersey. He has only missed two games due to injury in his first four seasons.

“We have to buckle down,” head coach Bruce Boudreau said earlier Monday. “A goal a game he scores, so we got to play better defense and cannot allow four or five goals a game. You have to win 3-1 and 2-1 and if you get lucky sometimes make it a 4-2 game. I think we have enough character players who understand what we will have to do without Alex.”

Ovechkin played just 7:43 of Sunday’s overtime loss to Columbus and was held without a point for just the third time this year. He was examined and treated by the team’s medical staff and underwent an MRI exam on Monday.

The two-time reigning most valuable player will travel with the Capitals this week to continue to receive medical treatment.

Alexander Ovechkin left Sunday night’s game against Columbus about six minutes into the second period and did not return. After the game Ovechkin refused to comment on what the  injury was, but originally said it was “upper-body” and that he was “day-to-day”. Ovechkin lead the NHL with 14 goals and 23 points.

Tomas Fleischmann, who just returned from injury, should see his offensive and power-play opportunities increase while Ovechkin is out of the lineup. He is a skilled player and could make a viable fantasy option

Other notable left wingers that might be availabe in your league are: Erik Cole, James van Riemsdyk, Niklas Hagman, Patrick O’Sullivan, Andy McDonald, Paul Kariya, Evander Kane, Todd Bertuzzi