ARLINGTON, Va. -- Alex Ovechkin participated in a full-contact practice with the Washington Capitals on Monday for the first time since the opening day of training camp, continuing his road back from a lower-body injury that should have the NHL's all-time leader in goals ready for start of the regular season.

"It feels good," Ovechkin said. "Obviously, I need more touches, more ice time with the boys because, obviously, that week that I missed kind of hit me a little bit. But overall, I'll take it."

Ovechkin, who will begin his 21st NHL season when the Capitals host the Boston Bruins at Capital One Arena on Oct. 8 (7:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, TNT), skated at left wing on a line with Anthony Beauvillier and Dylan Strome , and worked with the first power-play unit during a practice that

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