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Ovechkin out when Capitals host Predators

Oct 28, 2008 - 1:34 PM Nashville (4-4-0) at Washington (4-3-1) 7:00 p.m. EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The Washington Capitals will be without reigning Hart Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin on Tuesday when they host the Nashville Predators.

Ovechkin has returned to his native Russia to visit his ailing grandfather. The Capitals did not disclose when Ovechkin would return to the club, stating that the 23-year-old left wing officially is listed as day-to-day.

"It's tough because it has nothing to do with team and it has everything to do with family," Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Everybody here, if a loved one that was very close to us was not in good health, we'd feel the same way.

"Sometimes he bottles it all up inside. But you can tell by the way he relates with his mother and father that they've got a very close family relationship. So with his grandfather being as sick as he is, I would assume that it would bother him greatly. It would bother me if it was my mother or father or grandparents."

Although Ovechkin will not be available, the Capitals said Monday that they likely will not make a roster move since they currently are carrying two extra forwards - David Steckel and Eric Fehr - on their roster.

Washington also has Alexander Semin, who is off to the fastest start in team history and is tied for the NHL lead in points. Semin has seven goals and seven assists in the first eight games, becoming the quickest player on the Capitals to reach 14 points.