Washington Capitals News: Alex Ovechkin takes the ice, Jakob Chychrun gets recognized and more

The Washington Capitals were back in action for practice on Monday morning and there was some enoucraging news as Alex Ovechkin took the ice for the first time since his injury and skated for about five minutes. Video comes on X via Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network via photographer Greg Abernathy:

In prospect news Caps prospects Andrew Cristall and Cam Allen have been invited to Hockey Canada's National Junior selection camp. Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson have been named to the preliminary roster for the 2025 USA Hockey National Junior Team.

Back to varsity news, Jakob Chychrun got recognized as the NHL's Third Star of the Week from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1. He recorded seven points with three goals in four games, helping the Caps go 4-0-0 last week. His seven points ranked second among all defensemen trailing only Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks with one goal and eight assists in four games.

This stretch propeled the Capitals to both the top of the Metropolitan Division standings and the Eastern Conference standings as well. Chychrun factored on the game winning goal in three straight games with two goals and an assist including the overtime winner on Nov. 29 against the New York Islanders which marked his third career overtime goal.

Chychrun has recorded 15 points with eight goals and seven assists in 19 games this season which ranks second among Capitals blueliners. Chychrun's eight goals this season rank tied for first among NHL defensemen while his 0.42 goals per game rate ranks first. He joins Quinn Hughes as second star of the week and Macklin Celebrinia of the San Jose Sharks for the first star of the week. Caps see the Sharks on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. on Monumental Sports Network.

The Capitals begin the month of December with a 17-6-1 record with 35 points and own the second highest point percentage trailing only at .729 behind only the Minnesota Wild who have .750. Washington went 10-4-1 during the month of November earning 21 out of a possible 30 points with a .700 point percentage.

The Capitals' 10 wins in November were tied for the most in the NHL with Minnesota and their +22 goal differential over 15 games played ranked first. The team with the next closest goal differential during the first full month of the season was Winnipeg at +11.

Also on the ice ahead of the Capitals practice was Sonny Milano who skated in a light blue non contact jersey. He's been out since early November. The puck drops Tuesday night between the Capitals and the Sharks at 7 p.m. on Monumental Sports Network.