Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals smiles as he skates off the ice after a 4-3 win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Thursday. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

HNIC's senior online reporter Tim Wharnsby dishes on the latest buzz and trends in the hockey world, including the Alexander Ovechkin injury saga and news on Jonathan Toews.

1. Mucho Ovechkin injury confusion

Was Alex Ovechkin telling the truth and was he quoted accurately on Saturday evening, when he told Yahoo Sports' Dmitry Chesnokov that he was feeling better, but would miss "four to five weeks"?

Ovechkin has been nursing a strain near his left shoulder since removing himself from a Nov. 1 game, and told the reporter that after skating last Friday, the team doctors told him to shut it down and not use a stick.

The Capitals issued a statement that said, "The Washington Capitals dispute the validity of this report."

Ovechkin also was quoted about being cautious regarding the injury.

"November has just begun. I need to heal up 100 per cent and then play. There is no need to risk right now."

The Capitals were hoping to see Ovechkin return to practice later this week and that his absence would last no longer than two weeks.

2. Forsberg still undecided

Peter Forsberg has delayed his decision on where he will continue playing this season until later this week. The thinking was that he would decide after the conclusion of the Karjala Cup tournament whether he will play in Russia, the NHL or Sweden. But he remarked after Sweden’s 7-0 loss to rival Finland on Sunday that he will take a few more days to contemplate his next move.

Colorado, Philadelphia, Vancouver, N.Y. Rangers and Montreal all have interest in signing the 36-year-old unrestricted free agent, who has been hampered by chronic foot problems the past few seasons. Forsberg failed to register a point in his three games in the Karjala Cup.

3. Consistency not Carolina's forte

We shouldn’t be surprised about the Hurricanes 12-game losing streak and their decline this season. Big things were predicted after they advanced to the conference final last spring. But this is a club that has difficulty following up playoff success.

When the Hurricanes advanced to the 2002 Stanley Cup final and lost to the Red Wings, they failed to make the playoffs the following two seasons. When they won the 2006 Stanley Cup, again they failed to qualify for the post-season the next two years. So if the pattern continues, Carolina will not make the playoffs again until 2012.

4. Toews inching towards return

It will be a game-time decision, but it appears that Chicago will have its captain Jonathan Toews back in the lineup against Los Angeles in the only game on the NHL schedule on Hall of Fame induction day on Monday. Toews has been out with a concussion since he was rocked by Vancouver’s Willie Mitchell with a body check in the neutral zone on Oct. 21.

The Blackhawks are 3-2-1 without Toews.

5. Lightning connected to Habs

Tampa Bay forward Alex Tanguay exacted some revenge on the Canadiens for not offering him a contract last summer by scoring the game-winner in the Lightning’s 3-1 win on Saturday. Tampa Bay captain Vincent Lecavalier, who almost became a Canadien in a trade last year, registered two assists.

But 19-year-old sophomore Steven Stamkos was held off the scoresheet for only the third time in 15 games this season. His connection to the Canadiens? He worked out this summer with Montreal strength and conditioning co-ordinator Lorne Goldenberg.

Stamkos was put in contact with the fitness guru by his former Lightning teammate Gary Roberts, who has worked with Goldenberg for years.