The Capitals led the Eastern Conference when Ovechkin got injured Nov. 18, and they remain atop the conference more than three weeks into his absence.

Alex Ovechkin has not missed many games during his two decades in the NHL with the Washington Capitals until now.

The Capitals had lost 33 of their 59 games without Alex Ovechkin in the lineup during his first 19 seasons. In stark contrast to that, they’ve won six of nine since the 39-year-old captain was sidelined by a broken left fibula.