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Around the NHL: Alexander Ovechkin out 4-6 weeks with a fibula fracture
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Ryley Delaney
Nov 23, 2024, 11:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 23, 2024, 10:24 EST
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Alexander Ovechkin’s bid to surpass Wayne Gretzky’s goal record will be on hold for 4-6 weeks.
On Thursday afternoon, the Washington Capitals announced that captain Alexander Ovechkin will be out 4-6 weeks due to a fracture in his left fibula.
Ovechkin is off to his best start in his career in terms of goal scoring, potting 15 goals (and 10 assists) in 18 games this season before the injury. In fact, he scored his 14th and 15th goals before the injury against the Utah Hockey Club, taking the lead in goal-scoring where he’s still tied. Did I mention he’s 39 years old?
The big storyline, aside from the Capital’s 13-5-1 record to start the season, is the fact that Ovechkin is just 27 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record. Hopefully, he’s out the four weeks and continues to score at a high rate.

Jordan Eberle to miss at least three months

Speaking of captains who will miss some time due to injury, the Seattle Kraken will be without Jordan Eberle for at least three months because of surgery on his pelvis.
Through 17 games as the Kraken’s second captain in franchise history, Eberle scored six goals and 11 points. He’s one of the original Kraken, as they selected him in the expansion draft before the 2021-22 season. Since joining the newest team in the league, Eberle has 64 goals and 162 points in 256 games.
Originally drafted by the Edmonton Oilers, Eberle spent seven seasons with the Calgary Flames’ provincial rival, scoring 165 goals and 382 points in 507 games before being traded to the New York Islanders during the 2017 off-season. With the Islanders, Eberle scored 76 goals and 169 points in 272 games before the Kraken selected him.

Golden Knights extend Brett Howden

Sticking with expansion teams in the Pacific Division, the Vegas Golden Knights have extended Brett Howden to a five-year deal worth $12.5 million, or $2.5 million annually.
This season, the centre has eight goals and nine points in 20 games. His career-high in points came in his rookie season with the New York Rangers back in 2018-19, where he scored six goals and 23 points in 66 games. He’s also reached the nine-goal plateau twice in his career, once with the Rangers in 2019-20 and against the Knights in 2021-22.
Howden has helped the Golden Knights achieve first overall in the Pacific Division a quarter of the way through the season, as the 2023 Stanley Cup champions have a 12-6-2 record for 26 points, one ahead of the Calgary Flames.
Thanks for reading! You can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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