We just learned in the last few minutes that forward Alex Ovechkin will temporarily leave the Washington Capitals to attend to a family matter and the health of a loved one.
It was the team's general manager, Brian MacLellan, who announced the news.
This is terrible news for the Capitals, who are already on the fringe of a playoff spot. Of course, family always comes first, and we wish the best to Ovechkin in this tough time.
We will update this story as more details are released.