Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin out for Friday's game at New York Rangers

It was said earlier on Friday that Washington Capitals superstar captain Alex Ovechkin was considered a game-time decision for the regular-season finale at the New York Rangers, due to the unspecified upper-body injury he suffered last Sunday that kept him out of losses to the New York Islanders on Tuesday and Thursday. 

Washington didn't need that long to make the call. 

Per Dan Rosen of the NHL's website, Capitals coach Peter Laviolette confirmed that Ovechkin will remain out of action through at least Friday. 

"He skated this morning, had another good day," Laviolette explained about the 36-year-old who also skated on Thursday. Laviolette added he was not prepared to offer any update on Ovechkin's status for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, set to occur early next week. 

Ovechkin appeared to hurt his left arm and/or shoulder when he crashed into the boards in the third period of Sunday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs and hasn't played since. He'll end the regular season with 50 goals and 40 assists across 77 games. 

Washington began Friday night trailing the rival Pittsburgh Penguins by a single point in the battle for third place in the Metropolitan Division standings. Anything other than a Washington win over the Rangers coupled with the Penguins suffering a regulation loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets at home on Friday would result in the Capitals playing against the top-seeded Florida Panthers in the opening round of the playoffs. The Capitals would face the Rangers in the first round if they manage to finish third in the division standings.