Ovechkin ‘sore,’ listed as day-to-day

Both Alex Ovechkin and Bruce Boudreau said the Washington Capitals’ franchise player’s right knee injury is not as bad as they had feared, but when he might return has yet to be determined.

Officially, the team is listing Ovechkin as day-to-day with a sore right knee. Neither Ovechkin nor Boudreau would divulge any further information or speculate on when the two-time league MVP might return to action.

There also has been no word on potential further discipline from the league after Ovechkin was ejected for the second time in three games Monday night.

“[It is] not bad injury. I thought it was going to be worse,” Ovechkin said. “Thank God I can walk; I can skate. It’s a little sore.”

Ovechkin was checked out by the team’s medical staff Tuesday morning and then skated for about four minutes before the Caps went on the ice for practice. It was a light skate in a track suit and gloves.

After the practice Boudreau made some surprising comments about Ovechkin’s overall style of play.

“He’s pretty reckless. It is hard telling a guy who scores 60 goals a year to change the way he plays,” Boudreau said. “At the same time, you don’t want to see him getting hurt. Maybe he needs to pick his spots a little better.”

Moments before Boudreau spoke, Ovechkin had to answer some of the same questions, and his answer was not of the same thought process.

“How can you tell me you just have to stop playing how you play?” Ovechkin said. “I play risky. I don’t try dirty hits, make some people get hurt. But sometimes people just turn back or turn right away so I don’t have time to realize and stop. What can you do? You can’t do nothing.”