Alex Ovechkin's broken left foot is healing well after playing nearly three full games on it last month.
"Foot is okay," the recently-crowned MVP said during a conference call to discuss winning the Hart Trophy Sunday morning. "Right now I'm working fine. I'm going to start playing tennis soon. I'm going to be in good shape. ... It's kind of getting better, so I feel pretty good about my foot."
The Capitals' captain suffered a hairline fracture in his left foot during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Rangers when he blocked a shot from Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh. Ovechkin finished the series and then played one game for his native Russia at the IIHF World Championships once the Capitals were eliminated from the postseason before finally having an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.
"I never knew I had broken my foot until after World Championship, first of all," said Ovechkin, who alluded to playing through other injuries throughout the lockout-shortened season. "I blocked a shot. The puck broke my foot. I never ask if I hurt something. I just play the game because it's the playoffs. It doesn't matter what happen. You have to be there and you have to play the best that you can.
"If you hockey player, if you play for Stanley Cup, doesn't matter what happens, you just going to play. ... You play for Stanley Cup. That's it."
Ovechkin is expected to be ready for training camp when the Capitals reconvene in September.
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