Alex Ovechkin is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a broken left leg

Alex Ovechkin has a broken left fibula and is expected to be out four to six weeks, an injury that pauses the Washington Capitals superstar captains pursuit of Wayne Gretzkys NHL career goals record.

The Capitals updated Ovechkins status after he was evaluated by team doctors upon returning from a three-game trip.

The 39-year-old broke the leg in a shin-on-shin collision with Utahs Jack McBain, and some of his closest teammates knew it was not good news even before Ovechkin was listed as week to week and placed on injured reserve.

Everyones bummed out, said winger Tom Wilson, who has played with Ovechkin since 2013.

We were sitting there saying: This is weird.

Like, its unbelievable that hes actually hurt.

Its one of those things where like, hes going to miss games? Ive been around a long time, and its new to me.

Ovechkin in his first 19 seasons missed 59 games and just 35 because of injury.

Durability even while throwing his body around with his physical style is a big reason he is on track to pass Gretzkys mark of 894 goals that once looked unapproachable.

He doesnt go out there and just coast around, Wilson said.

Hes played 20 years every shift running over guys and skating.

Hes a power forward, the best goal-scorer ever maybe, and hes a power forward that plays the game really hard.

Ovechkin surged to the top of the league with 15 goals in his first 18 games this season.

He was on pace to break the record and score No.

895 sometime in February.

You know when goal-scorers start scoring, its dangerous, said defenseman John Carlson, who has been teammates with Ovechkin since 2009-10.

There was a bit of that in the downs that everyone was feeling about it too, of course.

We see him coming to the rink every day, we know whats at stake.

You never want anyone to get injured, but theres a lot to it and certainly he was playing his best hockey in years..

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