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Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time since his father, Mikhail Ovechkin, at the age of 71.
Alex Ovechkin, 37, traveled to be with his family in Russia for his father鈥檚 passing last week. He remained there until early this week, missing Washington鈥檚 last four games.
鈥淚t is what it is, you know. It鈥檚 life. Obviously, it was a hard week, mentally, physically,鈥� Ovechkin said following Wednesday鈥檚 practice. 鈥淏ut thanks for everybody鈥檚 support, the fans and the organization.鈥�
Alex Ovechkin meets with the media following today鈥檚 practice at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals)
The Capitals played the Florida Panthers at home the day after Mikhail鈥檚 passing. The team aired a tribute to Mikhail on the jumbotron at Capital One Arena prior to puck drop, and several players and analysts over the course of the night.
鈥淚 saw what they put on the jumbotron. It means a lot, it鈥檚 special,鈥� Ovechkin said. 鈥淎ll my teammates here 鈥� I have full support.鈥�
Ovechkin shared that his mother, Tatyana, and his older brother, also named Mikhail, would travel to Washington sometime in the next month to be together during a difficult time.
As for his health and conditioning, Ovechkin indicated that Wednesday鈥檚 session wasn鈥檛 so much a 鈥榩ractice鈥� as it was a skate-around for him to regain his feel for the ice. At the time he met with the media, Ovechkin had not yet spoken with head coach Peter Laviolette about returning to game action. The plan for that remains ongoing.
He also spoke about the influence his late father had on his life and his hockey career.
鈥淗e gave me everything 鈥� all his health, all his time,鈥� Ovechkin said. 鈥淗e traveled with me all over the world. Been at every practice whenever he have a chance.鈥�
Washington could surely use Ovechkin鈥檚 services. The team is on a five-game losing skid, most recently taking a at home on Tuesday. Over that five-game rut, Washington has scored a total of eight goals.
Ovechkin is the team鈥檚 leading scorer on the season with 32 goals and 22 assists in 54 games. Their next leading goal scorer, Marcus Johansson, has scored 13 goals this year.
鈥淚t was probably the toughest situation I鈥檝e been through in my whole NHL career,鈥� Ovechkin said of his father鈥檚 passing. 鈥淏ut how I said, it鈥檚 life and we move on. Thanks everybody for their support back home, here.鈥�
