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Washington Capitals coach Peter Laviolette confirmed significant person ahead Alex Ovechkin will be “apt to head” for the crew’s Stanley Cup playoffs opener in opposition to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
“Alex will play tonight,” Laviolette suggested journalists. “To be actual, I haven’t if truth be told noticed the rest assorted. He used to be a paunchy participant, he wasn’t held out of the rest and he competed at paunchy-hotfoot.”
Ovechkin overlooked Washington’s final three games of the fashioned season because of an upper-body hurt.
The 12-time All-Big name’s significance to the Capitals largely goes without pronouncing. He led the crew in objectives (50) and sides (90), and he has over and over risen to the occasion within the postseason. His 71 playoff objectives detestable second among appealing gamers.
After lastly lifting the Stanley Cup in 2018, Washington misplaced within the first spherical in three successive seasons.
This yr would possibly possibly make it four in a row fascinated about the Panthers’ 122 sides possess been the wonderful within the league. Florida is the percentages-on accepted (+275; bet $100 to do away with $275) at DraftKings Sportsbook to do away with the Eastern Conference, with the Caps unsurprisingly listed as the greatest underdog (+1400).
Laviolette’s squad has a tough facet twin carriageway ahead in jabber to come to the following spherical. Having Ovechkin aid wholesome is no longer going to no longer as a lot as provide the Caps with a tiny offer of hope that they’ll pull off the upset.
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