Washington Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette revealed there is no update to the availability of Alex Ovechkin and three other Capitals players. Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov and goalie Ilya Samsonov remain on the COVID absence list and are considered day-to-day, according to Samantha Pell of The Washington Post.
The quartet of Capitals players have each missed four games, as expected. However, neither participated in practice Friday, leaving doubt about their availability for Saturday’s game against the Boston Bruins. Washington (5-0-3) are 3-0-1 in their absence.
Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Orlov and Samsonov were placed in COVID protocols on Jan. 20 after the four were involved in social interactions without wearing masks in a hotel during the team’s road trip to Buffalo and Pittsburgh. Samsonov tested positive for the coronavirus on Jan. 21, according to Pell.
Additionally, the NHL fined the Capitals organization $100,000 for violating protocols.
