WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� 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. He’s tied for third in the NHL with 29 goals and is fourth on the career list with 759.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure he鈥檚 extremely disappointed,鈥� Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 disappointed, first and foremost that he鈥檚 not in the game tonight, and that he鈥檚 not playing.
鈥淚鈥檝e never seen a guy that does everything possible to get into a game and hates coming out of games and hates not being able to contribute and help his team win. For that, first and foremost, he鈥檚 probably upset. The All-Star Game, it鈥檚 a nice nod, but he鈥檚 certainly one of those big figures that goes to the All-Star Game. It was well-deserved this year, the nod and I鈥檓 sure that he鈥檚 upset with that, too.鈥�
Ovechkin will be replaced on the Metropolitan Division roster by his teammate, forward Tom Wilson, who鈥檒l be in his first All-Star Game. Washington center Evgeny Kuznetsov is in his second All-Star Game.
鈥淚 called him on the way here,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淎nd, it鈥檚 kind of like, 鈥楾hank you, I guess.鈥�”
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