As a result, it made it easier for him to understand what was behind Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid's recent three-game suspension. After being held down by Conor Garland

Alexander Ovechkin is thrilled that his Washington Capitals will face an Edmonton Oilers team without Connor McDavid.

Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid has been suspended for three games after cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland in the head.

Alex Ovechkin is closing in on Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goal record. Ovechkin has scored 872 goals in 1,451 games. He is just 23 goals away from breaking Gretzky's tally of 894 goals in 1,487 games.

NHL fans were preparing to watch another edition of Alex Ovechkin against Connor McDavid on Tuesday night. Unfortunately, that won't happen.

The hockey club will be without captain Connor McDavid for the first half of that homestand as the NHL handed him a three-game suspension on Monday after he delivered a crosscheck on Canucks forward Conor Garland near the end of a game Vancouver won 3-2 on Saturday.

Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin is happy his team doesn't have to face Connor McDavid on Tuesday night.

The Oilers nonetheless emerged from a travel-laden slate of 9 games in 15 days across all 4 of the league’s divisions and time zones with a 7-2-0 record. In a hectic six days this past week, the stretch included hard-fought wins over Los Angeles Kings,

Alex Ovechkin is hoping not to let a great chance go to waste as his Washington Capitals get set to take on a Connor McDavid-less Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.

Edmonton will be without McDavid, its captain and seven-time All-Star, who was suspended for three games for crosschecking Canucks forward Conor Garland late in the game Saturday. The Oilers fell behind 3-0 against the Canucks and their rally came up short. It was the third straight game Edmonton fell behind by two or more goals.

A weakened Edmonton Oilers squad taking on the Washington Capitals on Tuesday is no problem for Alex Ovechkin. “Sucks for him. Good for us,” the Capitals captain told reporters including Bailey Johnson of the Washington Post ahead of Tuesday’s showdown between Edmonton and Washington.

(At) N.Y. Islanders 3, Columbus 1: Bo Horvat scored twice in New York's three-goal second period, Simon Holmstrom also scored and Mathew Barzal had two assists as the Islanders won their second straight and fifth in seven games. Ilya Sorokin made 25 saves.