Credit: Corey Masisak. March 23, 2011. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=556988


Alex Ovechkin skated briefly at the Washington Capitals' practice facility Wednesday morning, and both he and coach Bruce Boudreau said the two-time MVP could be back in the lineup sometime next week.

Ovechkin missed Washington's win Tuesday night in Philadelphia and the club announced its superstar left wing would miss 7-10 days to rest a nagging injury.

While Ovechkin playfully asked reporters at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va., to guess what the injury actually is, he said it has been bothering him for two months and he's been in discussion with team officials about taking some time off for the past two weeks.

"I think right now we clinched [a] playoff spot and right now all the organization focus [is] about playoffs," Ovechkin told reporters. "I think right now is good time to, you know, make some rest for my body because I feel something [for] a couple months. Right now it's a good time to recover [so] I feel good and be good in playoffs."

It was the first game Ovechkin has missed this season, but injuries have played a part in what is likely to be the worst statistical season of his six-year career.

He had a cortisone shot in his wrist in early January, but was able to keep playing.

Ovechkin has 29 goals and 77 points this season -- his career lows are 46 goals and 92 points from his sophomore campaign in 2006-07. He was looking more like an MVP-caliber player in recent weeks and the team has surged into first place in the Southeast Division because of it.

He has 35 points (15 goals) in the 32 games since the cortisone shot, and the Capitals are 20-9-4 in that span to climb seven points clear of Tampa Bay in the Southeast and one shy of Philadelphia for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

"It was our collective decision," Ovechkin said. "We talk about probably two weeks before that and again it was pretty hard but when we win some games in a row and we feel good, we just said, 'OK, it's time to do it right now.' "

Added Boudreau: "I'm sure in everybody's case they don't want to rest or sit out and sometimes you need people to tell them to do that for their own good. It is the same everywhere -- you tell your kids you are doing this for their own good."

Ovechkin said he thinks he could return in "five to seven days."
Jason Arnott also skated with Ovechkin, and Boudreau said he thinks both could be back in the lineup by the end of next week. For now, Ovechkin will rest and wait for his return.

"I was kind of surprised last night to stay in D.C.," Ovechkin said. "Last year when I have injuries I just travel with the team and watch the game upstairs. Right now, I stay home, watch games on TV. [It is] kind of strange."