Alex Ovechkin: Will return Thursday

Ovechkin (lower body) will rejoin the lineup for Thursday's game against the Islanders.

Analysis:

Ovechkin missed the All-Star Game because of the lower-body issue, forcing him to skip the Caps' first game of the second half as well due to a mandatory one-game suspension. It appears the rest was enough for the star winger, and he'll rejoin the lineup Thursday to face an Islanders club that allowed 3.11 goals per game in January.