Alexander Ovechkin gives update on health following return in regular season finale

Fans in the nation's capital were treated to a preview of what will be a 1st round series matchup in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and one major portion of the host team returned to the lineup.

Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin, who had missed seven of his team's last eight games due to a lower-body injury, returned tonight at Capital One Arena in Washington's regular season finale against the Boston Bruins, whom they'll face-off with in Round 1 of the best-of-seven series that starts on Saturday. 

Ovechkin played 19 minutes of ice time and registered four shots on goal against Boston, whom his Capitals were able to beat by a 2-1 margin thanks to the game-winning goal being scored by former Philadelphia Flyers forward Michael Raffl. 

After the game, Ovechkin put any concern that Capitals fans had about their future Hall of Fame captain's health to rest.

“Right now, I’m 100 percent,” Ovechkin said afterward. “I didn’t feel any soreness. I feel comfortable. That’s the most important thing. This time of year, you have to be smart and you have to think about the future — not only regular season.”

“I tried to play in New York, but I didn’t feel comfortable and, obviously, we don’t want to make a risk and that was a smart move,” he said.

Ovechkin finished the season with "only" 24 goals in 45 games played, marking the first time in his illustrious career that he didn't hit the 30-goal mark. Of course, had this been a full NHL season, Ovechkin was on pace to appear in 71 games and tally 38 goals.

Head coach Peter Laviolette, who is in his first season behind the Capitals bench, will be looking to take his team on another long playoff run. The veteran bench boss already has a Stanley Cup title on his resume in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes, along with two additional Stanley Cup Finals appearances in 2010 with the Flyers and 2017 with the Nashville Predators. 

"It is always good to get a win,” Laviolette said. “. . . I think everybody is excited that the season is over and we are putting it off to the side and we are getting ready for the playoffs. That is what we will build on.”