BALLSTON, Va. - The Washington Capitals practiced Wednesday at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, but Alex Ovechkin did not. The practice was not optional, but Ovechkin took a "maintenance day," according to head coach Bruce Boudreau.
"He's got some bumps and bruises right now, so it was more of a maintenance day," Boudreau said. "We have two more games this week. We just told him to take it off and get some stretching done."
According to Boudreau, Ovechkin's "bumps and bruises" do not include the slash that he took on his right hand during last Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. In Ovechkin's place, Matt Hendricks skated on the top line with Nicklas Backstrom and Troy Brouwer.
Boudreau also provided succinct injury updates on Michal Neuvirth and Jay Beagle. Neither of them practiced Wednesday, although Neuvirth did skate briefly before his teammates began their formal practice.
"They still aren't out there," Boudreau said in reference to Neuvirth and Beagle. "That's about as updated as you're going to get right there."
When asked about a timetable for Neuvirth's return, Boudreau said that "your guess is as good as mine."