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Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals face the visiting New York Rangers at the Capital One Arena in Washington in an early 1:00 pm ET kickoff on Saturday (Feb. 25).
Ovechkin is available to play the game. He has been away from the team since Feb. 14 and missed all of the Capitals fixtures last week, as he flew to Russia to be with his family after his father's death. He flew back to Washington on Feb. 21 and played the next day against the Anaheim Ducks.
The Capitals had a 0-4 record during his absence. Despite Ovechkin returning to the lineup, they lost 4-2 against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. The Capitals are on a six-game losing streak and are sixth in the Metropolitan Division. They are contending for two wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference.
The Capitals should have secured an easy win against the Anaheim Ducks, who are the worst team in the 2022-23 NHL season with a 18-34-7 record, but things went from bad to worse for Ovechkin and his team. On a night where Ovechkin could not have much impact, the Capitals conceded four goals.
The New York Rangers, meanwhile, are on a three-game losing streak but are third in the Metropolitan Division and have more cushion than the Capitals.
The teams previously met in December, when the Capitals took a 4-0 win. Rangers have made several additions since then, including Vladimir Tarasenko. They have looked better offensively since his arrival.
Capitals pay homage to Alex Ovechkin's father Mikhail
Earlier last week, the hockey world was shocked to hear of the passing of Mikhail Ovechkin, Alex Ovechkin's father. The cause of his death has still not been made public.
In his remembrance, the team announced that they will have "Papa Ovi" stickers on their helmets for the rest of the season.
Mikhail was a familiar face in games and at the Capitals' practice facility. He had not been in Washington in recent years while dealing with health issues at home in Moscow.
He was unable to be with his son when he won the Stanley Cup in 2018, but Alex Ovechkin visited Russia with the Stanley Cup soon after the Capitals' victory.
In a statement, the Capitals organization recalled the times when Mikhail would visit the team during their practice and games and that he loved interacting with fans who were in attendance at the Capital One Arena.
