Alex Ovechkin assigned to third line, but receives second-most ice time among Capitals forwards in 4-3 shootout loss to Sabres

"The drop-down in the lineup parallels a similar move the Capitals made with Nicklas Backstrom during his final partial season and comes on the two-year anniversary of Backstrom stepping away from the team. In his 21st NHL campaign, Ovechkin is off to the worst start of his career after suffering a lower-body injury on the first day of training camp, posting only seven points (2g, 5a) in his first 12 games."

"The first signs of Alex Ovechkin's role with the Capitals potentially diminishing appeared in the team's published lines before puck drop against the Buffalo Sabres, Saturday. After a 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders the night before, the 40-year-old Ovechkin was separated from top-six center Connor McMichael and was not paired with top-line center Dylan Strome, who returned from injury. Instead, he was listed on the third line, skating with Hendrix Lapierre and Sonny Milano."

Alex Ovechkin was moved down in Washington's published lineup before the Sabres game, separated from top-six center Connor McMichael and initially placed on a third line with Hendrix Lapierre and Sonny Milano. The move echoes a similar demotion of Nicklas Backstrom near the end of his Capitals tenure. In his 21st NHL season Ovechkin endured a lower-body training camp injury and produced seven points (2g, 5a) in 12 games, with only 27 shots (2.25 per game). The Capitals are averaging 2.58 goals per game and scored just twice across their previous three losses.

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