The return of Ovechkin (update)

Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals smiles as he skates off the ice after a 4-3 win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Thursday. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Capitals Insider:

It's been a couple of weeks since we've seen this: Alex Ovechkin practicing on the top line. Coach Bruce Boudreau, meantime, has shuffled his forward combos this morning at Prudential Center.

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Clark
Laich-Morrison-Semin
Fleischmann-Perreault-Bradley
Laing-Steckel-Fehr

Coach Bruce Boudreau was coy when asked whether Alex Ovechkin would be back in the lineup tomorrow, saying: "As of today, he's in."

So it appears that as long as there aren't any setbacks, he should return from a 16-day layoff against the Rangers tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden.

Here's a video of Ovechkin from this morning's practice at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Ovechkin ready to return from Wash Post Sports on Vimeo.

Tweets:

• TarikElBashir: Alex Ovechkin is the first player on the ice at Prudential Center. He's on the top line with Nicklas Backstrom and Chris Clark.


• JapersRink: Is this the week Ovechkin returns? Is this the week Nylander is gone? Is this the week?


• washcaps: The Capitals' morning skate tomorrow at MSG will be at 10:30 am. NYR skating at practice rink, so Ovi can sit on the bench beforehand.

Update:

Ovi, BB talk to media after morning skate

TWEET:

 TWEET THIS: http://tinyurl.com/ovetjkin