Good news: Ovechkin skated for 4 minutes

Awesome news, Ovi skated. If it would be something bad, like torn cartilage, he wouldn't do that. I suspect strained knee ligament, out for 2 to 6 weeks to be safe.

Sprained or strained knee ligaments and/or muscles:

As with most ligament tears (sprains) the extent of the damage can be categorized into 3 different grades:
Grade 1 symptoms:

• Mild tenderness on the outside of the knee over the ligament.


• Usually no swelling.


• When the knee is bent to 30 degrees and force applied to the inside of the knee (stressing the lateral ligament) pain is felt but there is no joint laxity.

Grade 2 symptoms:

• Significant tenderness on the outside of the knee on the lateral ligament.


• Some swelling seen over the ligament.


• When the knee is stressed as for grade 1 symptoms, there is pain and laxity in the joint, although there is a definite end point (the knee cannot be bent sideways completely).

Grade 3 symptoms:

• This is a complete tear of the ligament.


• Pain can vary and may be actually less than a grade 2 sprain.


• When stressing the knee there is significant joint laxity.


• The athlete may complain of having a very unstable knee...

Corey Masisak, TWT:

Alex Ovechkin was on the ice this morning for about four minuntes in a track suit, gloves and skates. He had a stick with him and whacked at a couple of pucks, but it was a very light skate.

At first, Ovechkin was skating without using his right leg to push off at all, then he took small strides with both legs. Eventually, he was moving his feet close together and far apart to stretch his legs out and finally he bent his right knee a few times before leaving the ice.

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