Training Camp Buzz: Ovechkin to make preseason debut for Capitals

Welcome to the 2018 preseason! NHL training camps are open and preseason games are under way.
This is a busy time, with rookies looking to make a name for themselves and veterans trying to lock down roster spots. Each day we will have all the updates of note right here.
Here is the training camp news for Thursday:

Ovechkin set for Capitals preseason debut

Alex Ovechkin will play his first game this preseason when the Washington Capitals face the Montreal Canadiens at Videotron Centre in Quebec City (7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, NBCSWA).
The 33-year-old forward helped the Capitals win the Stanley Cup for the first time last season. He led all players with 15 goals during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, was second with 27 points and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player in the playoffs.
Also playing their first preseason games Thursday will be forwards Tom Wilson and Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov led all players in the playoffs with 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists). Wilson, who had 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in the postseason, signed a six-year, $31.02 million contract (average annual value $5.17 million) July 27.

Panarin sidelined through weekend for Blue Jackets

Artemi Panarin will not play when the Columbus Blue Jackets visit the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center on Friday, or in two other games this weekend, coach John Tortorella said.
The 26-year-old forward is out with a neck sprain that caused him to miss the first three days of training camp. He did not appear in a 4-1 preseason loss against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday or in a 4-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. Nor did he play in Columbus' scrimmage Thursday, though he participated in skating drills afterward.
Panarin passed conditioning and skating tests, but there is no timetable for his return, Tortorella said.
Also missing from the scrimmage were defensemen Ryan Murray (mid-body) and Zach Werenski (shoulder). Murray is day-to-day, according to Tortorella.
Werenski, who had surgery on his left shoulder May 3, received medical clearance for limited contact beginning Thursday. He skated with forward Nathan Gerbe on a rink adjacent to where the Blue Jackets scrimmaged.
Werenski hopes to play against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sept. 28 and be ready for the regular-season opener at the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 4. -- Craig Merz

Eriksson week to week for Canucks

Loui Eriksson could miss the start of the season for the Vancouver Canucks because of a bone bruise in his left leg.
The 33-year-old left wing was injured blocking a shot in a 4-2 loss against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday and is week to week Canucks coach Travis Green said.
Eriksson had 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 50 games last season, his lowest totals since his rookie season with the Dallas Stars in 2006-07 when he had six goals and 19 points.
Eriksson has 47 points (21 goals, 26 assists) in 105 games in two seasons with Vancouver. He has four seasons remaining on a six-year, $36 million contract signed prior to the 2016-17 season.
The Canucks open the regular season against the Calgary Flames on Oct. 3.

Pavelec announces retirement

Goaltender Ondrej Pavelec, an unrestricted free agent, has retired from hockey.
"Playing hockey didn't make sense to me anymore. The time has come," Pavelec, 31, told Denik Sporta Czech on Thursday. "I always said I would play hockey as long as I enjoy it and as long as teams will be interested in me. Now none of these things have come together. My head is not set to continue … so it wasn't a big dilemma for me anyway."
Pavelec was 4-9-1 with a 3.05 goals-against average, .910 save percentage and one shutout in 19 games with the New York Rangers last season.
Selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the second round (No. 41) of the 2005 NHL Draft, Pavelec was 156-167-48 with a 2.88 GAA, .907 save percentage and 18 shutouts in 398 games with the Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets and Rangers, ranking first in wins (152) and shutouts (17) in Jets franchise history. He's third among Czech Republic-born goaltenders in games played, behind Dominik Hasek (735) and Tomas Vokoun (700). -- Michael Langr

Penguins return Bellerive to juniors

Jordan Bellerive
was one of 11 players cut from the Pittsburgh Penguins training camp roster Thursday.
The 19-year-old center,
who sustained burns to his face, hands and upper body in a campfire accident June 15
, was returned to his junior team, Lethbridge of the Western Hockey League.

Lyon out four weeks

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Alex Lyon will miss at least four weeks because of a lower-body injury.
Lyon, 25, was expected to play against the New York Islanders on Wednesday but was injured during warmups.
He made his NHL debut last season and was 4-2-1 with a 2.75 goals-against average and .905 save percentage in 11 games.