Alex Ovechkin missed Tuesday’s morning skate because he overslept after setting his alarm for 8:30 p.m. instead of 8:30 a.m. In accordance with team rules, Ovechkin was scratched for that night’s game against the San Jose Sharks.
Ovechkin said he arrived to Kettler Capitals Iceplex late, and that’s when Coach Barry Trotz told him he wouldn’t play in the game.
“I made mistakes, so that’s why,” Ovechkin said.
Ovechkin was back at practice on Wednesday, when he addressed his unexpected absence. Trotz had said he missed the morning skate and then the game — a 5-0 loss to the Sharks — because of “personal reasons.