ARLINGTON, Va. -- Alex Ovechkin skated on his own for the third consecutive day Thursday, continuing his recovery from a lower-body injury, and could join the Washington Capitals for practice for the end of this week, coach Spencer Carbery said.

Ovechkin hasn't practiced with the Capitals since leaving a few minutes into the first session of training camp Sept. 18, but Carbery has remained confident that the 40-year-old left wing will be ready for the season opener against the Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena on Oct. 8 (7:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, TNT).

Ovechkin, the NHL's all-time leader with 897 goals, will miss the second of Washington's six preseason games against the Philadelphia Flyers at Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, but Carbery hopes he'll be able to play tw

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