Report: Capitals LW Ovechkin expected to play in opener

Oct 9, 2008 - 2:33 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- A sore upper leg muscle will not keep Alex Ovechkin from beginning his Hart Trophy encore as scheduled.

According to a published report on Thursday, the Washington Capitals' superstar is expected to play in Friday's regular-season opener against the Atlanta Thrashers despite leaving practice early this week.

The Washington Post reported that the 23-year-old Ovechkin has been nursing a minor injury and exited Tuesday's practice session early.

Last season, Ovechkin scored 65 goals - surpassing Luc Robitaille's record by a left wing of 63 in 1992-93 with Los Angeles - and recorded 112 points en route to winning the Hart and Art Ross Trophies, as well as the Lester B. Pearson Award.

The Capitals, who claimed the Southeast title courtesy of a torrid second-half run last campaign, look to repeat as division champions for the first time since accomplishing the feat in 1999-00 and 2000-01.