The NHL All-Star match will go on without one of the league’s top stars this weekend.
After testing positive for COVID-19, Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin will miss the NHL All-Star game as required by current league protocols. The Capitals announced Ovechkin’s diagnosis Wednesday afternoon, ahead of the Capitals’ game against the Oilers.
Capitals teammate Tom Wilson will replace Capitals teammate Alex Ovechkin on the Metropolitan Division roster, the NHL announced.
Ovechkin has been named captain for the Metropolitan Division for this weekend’s game, and get the most votes among all NHL . players. Despite confirming the captain’s absence for the third consecutive All Star game, the league has yet to announce any potential replacements.
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is unavailable tonight against Edmonton Oilers due to NHL COVID-19 protocol. Based on the positive test result, Ovechkin will not participate in the 2022 NHL All-Star Game in Las Vegas.
– CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 2, 2022
About a day before Ovechkin tested positive, the NHL and NHLPA announced plans to revise the league’s COVID-19 protocols. Each group can now eliminate the daily testing requirements for fully vaccinated individuals and “advanced measures” for the prevention and detection of COVID-19, according to a statement from the federation was released on Monday. The updated protocols will go into effect after each team’s final game prior to the NHL All-Star.
Under old league protocols, Ovechkin was required to quarantine for five days before he could return to the team with a negative PCR test result and evaluation from the team doctor. All players, including those who are fully vaccinated with no symptoms, are still required to be tested daily.
With Ovechkin’s positive results ahead of Wednesday’s Capitals game against the Oilers, the team’s final game before halftime, the league’s top striker will be unlikely to return and make his eighth appearance at the game. Play All-Star in Las Vegas.
He was previously placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol-related absence list the night after he and several members of the Capital gathered in a hotel room on a recent trip. for violating alliance protocols. Players are prohibited from training or competing while on the roster, and they may be removed from the roster at any time.
Ovechkin, 36, was voted All-Star 12 times and has played in the game seven times. He has 29 goals and 29 assists this season and is 5th in the table with 58 points.
Although Ovechkin won’t be in Las Vegas, the All-Star game is still supposed to kick off with contests of skill on Friday night. Events will continue into the weekend with challenges followed by an official All-Star game, which is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday.
