"Alex Ovechkin, Capitals' Star Player, Returns to the Rink After 2-Week Leg Injury"

Alex Ovechkin, the star of the Washington Capitals, lightly skated by himself before the team's practice on Monday, a fortnight after fracturing his left leg.

The Capitals declared that their team captain would be absent for four to six weeks after breaking his left fibula in a collision with Utah forward Jack McBain during Washington's 6-2 victory on November 18.

However, the 39-year-old forward was back on the ice on Monday, dressed in a track suit and helmet, and skating with his stick but no other hockey equipment for a light workout.

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\"I don't think he's real, to be honest,\" stated Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois. \"It's been two weeks with a broken leg and he's already back on the ice. He's a machine... It's fantastic to see him back on the ice. He was elated when he finished, and so were we. It's a great sign, a step in the right direction.\"

Capitals coach Spencer Carbery believes it was Ovechkin's first time back on the ice.

\"It was a nice sight to see,\" Carbery remarked. \"It's just the first step. No updates on a timeline or anything like that. This is just a step in the process of his return.\"

On Tuesday, Washington will host the San Jose Sharks, and Ovechkin will miss his seventh consecutive game, marking the longest break of his career. He was previously sidelined for six consecutive games with an upper-body injury from November 4-14, 2009.

Although the Capitals have won four consecutive games after losing their first two without Ovechkin, he was on a hot streak before the injury. He scored two goals in the game against Utah before being injured and has scored 13 goals in his last 11 games. At the time, Ovechkin led the league with 15 goals in 18 games.

His pursuit of history has also been put on hold. With 868 career goals, the Russian needs 27 more to surpass Wayne Gretzky's all-time record of 894.

Ovechkin already holds the NHL records for career power-play goals (316) and shots on goal (6,690) in his 1,444 games. He has only missed 59 games, including 35 due to injury, in his 20 seasons in the NHL.