WASHINGTON, D.C. - Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery expects Captain Alex Ovechkin, 40, to return with the team in the 21st NHL season.

"My understanding is that he has a contract, so he will be back next year," the coach said. The Capitals lost 3-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday night in Game 5, which sent Washington out of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Ovechkin signed for the 2025-26 season with a salary of $9.5 million.

"I thought 'O' was great in the playoffs," Carbury said. "I know this series, the statistics aren't likable."

Ovechkin's regular season allowed him to score 44 goals in 65 games, while his 895th career broke Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL record. His playoffs were scored only once in five games against Carolina with whimper: Ovechkin scored a 5-to-3 power play in Game 4 of Raleigh. Ovechkin produced 14 photos in the series. He was generally a negative 3, which included a negative 2 in the knockout stages that eliminated Carolina.

"Yes, it's obviously tough. We have a special team, but obviously we have the opportunity and we don't execute it."

In the playoffs, Ovechkin had five goals and assists in 10 games, except for one goal to beat the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the series in 5 games.

Carbery praised Ovechkin's playoff performance rebound last season with the New York Rangers, when he scored no points, scoring five goals in their series.

"He was upset about the way the playoffs was going," Carbury said. "How did this team perform (this season)? How did they win the East? He was a big part of our captain. The Cherry's highest was that he went into the playoffs and ran on the seat."

Carbery's overtime goal against the Canadians in Game 1 was a crucial moment in the playoffs. However, Ovickin will only score further goals in the playoffs, but not for the Hurricanes.

"He's doing a great job this year and I think his playoffs are great. He did what he's back this year and he did it in the playoffs, too," Carbury said. "I pushed my hat to his season and as our captain, I led the way."

The Capital made an admirable effort in Game 5, generating a scoring opportunity, and skating was better than the previous two road losses in the Hurricane. They made more shots and chances of scoring with their 5-on-5 opponents, but in the third phase of Andrei Svechnikov, the way to break the 1-1 field was left with only 1:59 left to put Carolina ahead.

"They are just ruthless about their own pressure and the ability to break the game. There are no teams in the league. That doesn't mean they're going to win the Cup. But they're definitely there," Carbury said. "I hate, hate, hate losing to them series, but it's a great learning (for our team).

The Capitals won the Eastern Conference with 111 points in the regular season. It's a season defined by emerging talented such as Aliaksei Protas, such as center Pierre-Luc Dubois and goalkeeper Logan Thompson, as well as the historic chase of Ovechkin, who eventually surpassed Gretzky's NHL goal record.

"There's nothing to say about him," said Dylan Strome, his center. "It's an honor to be able to play with him and see the way he plays. He's an easy guy to line up and follow. Who knows the longer he's left, but as long as he's here, we'll still follow."