John Carlson, a longtime teammate of Ovechkin, acknowledged the impact of Ovechkin's injury on the team, emphasizing the excitement surrounding his scoring prowess this season. He noted that Ovechkin was playing some of his best hockey in years, and the team felt a collective disappointment at the prospect of losing him during a crucial time in his pursuit of the goal-scoring record. Carlson highlighted the awareness among teammates of the stakes involved, underscoring the camaraderie and shared aspirations within the team.