Caps’ Ovechkin out two weeks

ARLINGTON - First, Alex Ovechkin was day-to-day. Then he was week-to-week.

Now the latest, courtesy coach Bruce Boudreau: "Hopefully, it's no more than two weeks."

The league's two-time reigning MVP has the most serious injury of his NHL career, a "upper-body strain" that could test just how good the Washington Capitals can be this season.

Ovechkin did not practice yestersday, but he spoke to reporters in the locker room. He wore a T-shirt and gym shorts without a visible sign of a bandage or brace - nothing to indicate which body part is ailing. In hockey, secrecy is the norm when it comes to injuries, especially when the patient is the world's greatest player.

"Sometimes players have injuries," he said. "Every player gets hurt. I'm lucky I don't have nothing broken. It's just . . . "

Ovechkin paused.

"Something," he continued with a smile. "You think I'm going to tell right now?"

Ovechkin has missed only four games - just two because of injury - since coming to the NHL in 2005. Game No. 5 comes today at New Jersey. He's paced the Capitals with a league-leading 14 goals this season, helping the team to a comfortable early lead in the Southeast Division.

Elsewhere

• Final papers have been signed closing the sale of the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes to the NHL. Notification of the closure was filed yesterday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Also, the Coyotes recalled forward Mikkel Boedker from their AHL affiliate in San Antonio.

Standings, Summaries, Page C5