Watch: Capitals' Alex Ovechkin skates before team practice in non-contact jersey for second straight day

Ovechkin was placed on injured reserve just two days after he suffered his injury and was expected to miss four to six weeks recovering.

It's starting to look closer to the four-week outlook as a return to team activities typically indicates a player's injury recovery is at the start of the conditioning phase. Ovechkin worked with team trainers on both Wednesday and Thursday.

However, with the diagnosis of a fractured left fibula, Ovechkin probably won't be taking line rushes anytime soon.

He also took to the ice on Monday for the first time before the team's practice, seemingly testing out how his leg would hold up on the familiar surface.

Washington has gone 4-2-1 in Ovechkin's absence, with several teammates like Dylan Strome and Connor McMichael stepping up in the scoring categories.

With 36 points, the team sits atop the Metropolitan Division and will face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday in what will be Ovechkin's eighth game missed on the season.