By IRA PODELL
AP Hockey Writer

NEW YORK(AP) -- Alex Ovechkin was back in the Washington Capitals
lineup on Tuesday night after the star forward missed two weeks
because of an injury.

The two-time NHL MVP practiced with his teammates on Tuesday
morning and came through that and the pregame warmup without any
setbacks. Ovechkin was sidelined for six games because of an
upper body injury, believed to be a left shoulder strain. He
entered Tuesday tied for the NHL lead with 14 goals despite
playing only 14 games.

While the Capitals welcomed back Ovechkin when they faced the
New York Rangers, Washington was without top forward Alexander
Semin, who has been bothered by a sore right wrist. Semin was
injured last week, but hadn't missed a game because of his wrist
until he sat out Tuesday night.

Ovechkin got hurt against Columbus on Nov. 1. The Southeast
Division-leading Capitals won four of six games without him. He
was excited to get back to game action.

"It's going to be a pretty cool moment for me," he said.

The Capitals were also missing goalie Jose Theodore, who
returned home because of a personal matter.

Semyon Varlamov, who played well against the Rangers in last
season's playoffs when the Capitals erased a 3-1 series deficit
in the first round to advance, started in goal at New York.
Washington recalled Michal Neuvirth from Hershey of the AHL on
Tuesday to be Varlamov's backup.

Varlamov is 6-1 in his past seven outings with a 2.09 goals
against average.

One other injury question mark for Washington was the status of
forward David Steckel, who was struck in the foot by a puck
during practice on Monday. Steckel was in the lineup along with
center Jay Beagle, who was recalled from on Tuesday from Hershey
and replaced Semin.

The Capitals were already missing forwards Mike Knuble (broken
finger), Boyd Gordon (back), and defenseman Milan Jurcina (lower
body). Knuble has missed one game and is expected to be
sidelined for 3 to 4 weeks. Jurcina will miss his third game.