Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin and defenseman Dennis Wideman were both named to the NHL All-Star game on Thursday. Center Nicklas Backstrom, out for the past two games with a head injury, was not chosen to participate.
It is the first selection for Wideman, who has eight goals and 21 assists for Washington this season. Ovechkin made the All-Star team for the fifth time in his career, tying a franchise record – though he has 17 goals and 16 assists through 41 games. He is tied for 18th in goals scored and is not in the top 30 in points.
“On my team right now, we have lots of guys who can be an All-Star,” Ovechkin said prior to the announcement. “I don’t know. It’s not my decision…It’s a league decision, but I’d love to be there.”
Wideman ranks fifth in the league among defensemen in points (29), is tied for fourth in goals (8) and tied for fifth in assists (21). He also leads the Capitals in average ice time (24 minutes, 8 seconds).
Backstrom’s apparent snub comes with a caveat: Could he have even participated? Did the team ask the league to leave him out? Backstrom has missed three games in a row following the head injury he suffered after a Rene Bourque elbow in a Jan. 3 game against Calgary. He skated last Thursday and Friday at practice, but hasn’t been seen on the ice since with apparent concussion symptoms. Washington coach Dale Hunter says Backstrom remains day-to-day. He did not participate in the optional practice at Kettler Iceplex on Thursday.
Even with those two games missed, Backstrom ranks 15th in the NHL with 42 points. That leads the Caps. He has 13 goals – only Ovechkin and Jason Chimera have more – and a team-high 29 assists so far. This year’s NHL All-Star game is Jan. 29 in Ottawa.
“I don’t think [Backstrom is] worried about getting to the All-Star Game,” Chimera said before learning Backstrom is not headed to Ottawa. “He’s worried about getting back playing for us. I think that’s the biggest thing – for him to get healthy. And he’s going to help us a lot down the stretch. It’s tough position he’s in right now. You don’t want to force to get back either and have it get worse.”
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