PETER LAVIOLETTE

The Pittsburgh Penguins may have to try and close out the New York Rangers without captain Sidney Crosby.

Injuries are threatening to tip the balance of a handful of first-round series around the NHL playoffs.

Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe each had a goal and an assist and the Florida Panthers topped the Washington Capitals 5-1 on Thursday night to even their Eastern Conference first-round series at a game apiece.

The eight playoff teams in the Eastern Conference have been set since before the All-Star break.

Maple Leafs Capitals Hockey Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) is tripped by Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Erik Kallgren (50) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, April 24, 2022, in Washington. Ovechkin left with an injury after the play. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) (Nick Wass)WASHINGTON — (AP) — Alex Ovechkin did not skate with his Washington Capitals teammates Tuesday morning and his status moving forward is unclear with the start of the playoffs less than a week away. Durability has helped Ovechkin play 1,274 regular-season and 141 playoff games since making his debut in 2005. “Sometimes there’s got to be a little bit of luck to it, but he’s a really strong guy,” Laviolette said.

The Washington Capitals are listing Alex Ovechkin as day to day with an upper-body injury.

(AP Photo/Nick Wass) (Nick Wass)WASHINGTON — (AP) — Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin will miss the NHL All-Star Game in Las Vegas on Saturday after entering the league's COVID-19 protocols Wednesday. Ovechkin was going to play in his eighth All-Star Game. The All-Star Game, it’s a nice nod, but he’s certainly one of those big figures that goes to the All-Star Game. Washington center Evgeny Kuznetsov is in his second All-Star Game. “And, it’s kind of like, ‘Thank you, I guess.’"___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP-SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin will miss the NHL All-Star Game in Las Vegas on Saturday after entering the league’s COVID-19 protocols Wednesday.

Kings Capitals Hockey Washington Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette , center top, looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez) (Luis M. Alvarez)The Washington Capitals-Philadelphia Flyers game scheduled for Monday night has been postponed. It’s the 50th NHL game postponed this season for coronavirus-related reasons. That left the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Vegas Golden Knights as the only game left in the NHL this week. Of the 50 games postponed, 45 have occurred over the past two weeks with the delta and omicron variants spreading across North America.

The Washington Capitals-Philadelphia Flyers game scheduled for Tuesday night has been postponed.

LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Garnet Hathaway scored twice late in the third period and the Washington Capitals beat Los Angeles 2-0 Wednesday night, snapping the Kings' eight-game point streak. The Capitals extended their point streak to six (5-0-1) with the win. “It was a really good performance by him. He did a really good job,” Laviolette said of Samsanov. It is the second time the Kings, 7-0-1 during their streak, have been shut out this season.

Garnet Hathaway a pair of goals during a two-minute span in the third period and the Washington Capitals snapped the Los Angeles Kings eight-game point streak with a 2-0 victory Wednesday night.

Bruins Capitals Hockey Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) celebrates his goal with center David Krejci (46) during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals, Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Washington. Bergeron scored twice at crucial times after Pastrnak's highlight-reel goal, Rask made 40 saves and the Bruins eliminated the Washington Capitals in five games with a 3-1 victory Sunday night. Those were occasionally interrupted by “We want the Cup!” — the trophy the Bruins last won a decade ago after a 39-year title drought. It's a third consecutive first-round exit for Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals since they won the Stanley Cup in 2018. The longtime Bruins captain who lifted the Cup in 2011 signed with Washington on a one-year deal and turned 44 in March.

The Boston Bruins beat the Washington Capitals 3-1 to close out their first-round series in five games and advance in the playoffs.

Brad Marchand scored 39 seconds into overtime and the Boston Bruins rallied to beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 and even the East Division first-round series at a game apiece.

Nic Dowd deflected in T.

Tom Wilson is good to go after leaving Washington's last game with an upper-body injury and eager to move on from a chaotic few days.

Capitals Rangers Hockey Washington Capitals' Tom Wilson (43) yells at the New York Rangers bench after taking a second-period penalty during an NHL hockey game Monday, May 3, 2021, in New York. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP) (Bruce Bennett)Washington’s Tom Wilson was fined $5,000 by the NHL on Tuesday for roughing New York Rangers forward Pavel Buchnevich in the teams' game Monday night at Madison Square Garden. It happens a lot.”Rangers coach David Quinn said Panarin was OK and added of Wilson: “It happens time and time again with him. It’s just totally unnecessary.”"I figure you should have some more respect for the game and for the players," Rangers center Mika Zibanejad said of Wilson's play. This is Wilson's third fine in eight NHL seasons, and he has been suspended five times.

Washington's Tom Wilson has been fined $5,000 by the NHL for roughing New York Rangers forward Pavel Buchnevich.

Jake Guentzel scored his 22nd goal 2:11 into overtime to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 5-4 victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night in a result that clinched both teams' place in the playoffs.

Alex Ovechkin scored twice to move within one goal of Marcel Dionne for fifth place on the NHL’s career goals list as the Washington Capitals downed the Philadelphia Flyers 6-3.

Anthony Mantha had a two points in his Washington debut, Alex Ovechkin scored the 728th goal of his NHL career and the Capitals beat the Philadelphia Flyers 6-1.

Mathew Barzal had three goals and two assists, Jordan Eberle scored twice, and the New York Islanders beat the Washington Capitals 8-4.

(AP Photo/Nick Wass)WASHINGTON – Capitals players and coach Peter Laviolette sounded as if they'd lost after holding on to beat the New York Rangers 5-4 Sunday. Washington has won 10 of 11 games to move two points up on the second-place New York Islanders and looks primed for another deep playoff run. “If there’s a trend, we want to address it,” said Wilson, who has five points in four games since returning from a seven-game suspension. And their best players are producing: Ovechkin has 11 goals in 11 games and leads the team with 18; Kuznetsov has 12 points in 10 games and Jakub Vrana picked up his first point in five games. Keith Kinkaid made 17 saves for the Rangers, who have lost back-to-back one-goal games after a three-game winning streak.

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal with the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Friday, March 26, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)WASHINGTON – Alex Ovechkin scored twice, Ilya Samsonov made 24 saves and the Washington Capitals rode their best players to a 4-0 victory Friday night and two-game sweep of the New Jersey Devils. Ovechkin has scored 10 times in his past 10 games and has a team-best 17 goals this season. “He’s probably the hottest guy in the league now, but it seems like every shot he takes is dangerous. Thank you, team.”With Ovechkin rolling, the Capitals have won nine of their past 10 games and are back atop the East Division.

Boston Bruins' Brandon Carlo is helped off the ice after an injury in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Friday, March 5, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)BOSTON – Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo was released from the hospital Saturday after spending the night following a head hit from Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson. Later Saturday, Wilson was suspended for seven games by the NHL without pay after an Zoom hearing to discuss the incident. Carlo left Friday night's game against the Capitals after Wilson hit him late in the first period, smashing his head into the glass with his hands and stick. Boston's Trent Frederic and Jarred Tinordi both fought Wilson later in the game, which the Bruins won 5-1.

Washington Capitals right wing Garnet Hathaway (21) scores a goal past New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)NEWARK, N.J. – Based on recent results, the Washington Capitals are getting used to coach Peter Laviolette's new system. Lars Eller, who added the third goal in a big opening period, thinks Washington is hitting its stride in a 5-1-1 run that followed a four-game losing streak. AdNico Hischier and Pavel Zacha each scored for the second consecutive game for New Jersey, which has lost four of five. Ad“I believe it hit the shield and pushed the shield into his face so that that actually is a good thing,” Ruff said. So we still have a lot to learn, a lot to clean up and a lot we can improve on.

Washington Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie (77) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)WASHINGTON – T.J. Oshie scored twice to end a lengthy drought, Alex Ovechkin had a late power-play goal and the Washington Capitals came back from down two to beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on Sunday. Anderson and New Jersey's Aaron Dell each hadn't started an NHL game in more than 11 months. The Capitals and Devils each played at home Saturday afternoon, so this adjustment was possible. Samsonov got two minor league rehab starts but hasn't played an NHL game since Jan. 17.

New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafrenire (13) scores a goal past Washington Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek (41) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, in Washington. Also seen are Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) and Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93). Lafrenière scored his second NHL goal, Panarin had two assists and the Rangers made the best of a new-look lineup, beating the Washington Capitals 4-1 Saturday for their second consecutive victory. Panarin set up Lafrenière on the doorstep late in the second period, and his shot provided the rebound for Chris Kreider's power-play goal in the first. Zibanejad's goal was just his second since last season after scoring 41 in 57 games in 2019-20.

Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) celebrates his goal with the bench during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, in Washington. Buoyed by their top scorer's first two goals of the season and a big rookie's fight against one of the toughest players in hockey, the Bruins erased a three-goal deficit to beat the Washington Capitals 5-3 on Monday night. “In the box, I was like a little kid in there just jumping around when we scored,” Frederic said. The Capitals had front-row seats for Pastrnak's breakout performance in his second game after undergoing offseason hip surgery. Former Bruins captain Zdeno Chara scored in his second game against his old team.

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, celebrates his game-winning goal in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. In his first game since Jan. 19, Ovechkin scored in overtime to help the Washington Capitals beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 Saturday night in a showdown between the top teams in the NHL’s East Division. After Ovechkin missed the previous four games because of COVID-19 protocols, the high-scoring forward showed his career-long flair for the dramatic by beating Tuukka Rask with a perfect shot 28 seconds into overtime. “It was fun,” said Ovechkin, who also had an assist while being eased back in with 14 minutes of ice time. The Capitals beat the Bruins for the 17th time in 19 regular-season games dating to 2015.

For Peter Laviolette, his Washington Capitals will keep playing for the next week without four prominent players who broke the rules. There's no indication the Capitals are being shut down, though they will have to play the next four games without captain Alex Ovechkin, No. The NHL defers to local authorities, and the minimum four games for the Capitals players relates to the District of Columbia's quarantine regulations. The Hurricanes have so far had three games postponed because of their outbreak and won't play for at least a week. I think that’s really what we’re going to find out.”___AP Sports Writers Aaron Beard and Stephen Hawkins contributed.

It was the first day of training camp for Laviolette and the Washington Capitals and most of the NHL. Camps are now open for the league's 31 teams and they will last just 10 days. “You get a fresh start,” said Jeff Skinner of the Buffalo Sabres, who haven't played a game since March. “Most players would argue that camps are a little bit long anyway," Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler said. “I’ve been told from our team and from the league, when a player is not on the ice during training camp, we’re supposed to say he’s not available today,” Philadelphia coach Alain Vigneault said.

FILE - Nashville Predators head coach Peter Laviolette answers questions during a news conference Thursday, June 1, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. The Washington Capitals hired Peter Laviolette, who won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, as coach on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, FIle)WASHINGTON – The Washington Capitals hired Peter Laviolette as coach Tuesday, turning to an NHL veteran who won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and saw a successful run with Nashville end with his firing in January. Laviolette also led the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers and 2017 Predators to the Stanley Cup Final. “Peter is a successful NHL head coach who has won a Stanley Cup and brings a wealth of experience to our team,” Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said in a statement.