ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) - Alex Ovechkin is back with the Washington Capitals, having made a quick return from Russia once he heard about the end of the NHL lockout.

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Ovechkin was on the ice with nine other Capitals players Tuesday morning for an informal skate. The team can't hold official practices until the new collective bargaining agreement is ratified.

Ovechkin then changed into a T-shirt that read, in Russian: "Am I really the prettiest one here, again?"

Ovechkin got engaged to tennis player Maria Kirilenko during the lockout. He was so pessimistic about the NHL labor talks that he thought he'd be spending the entire season playing in Moscow.

He says the first couple of games back in the U.S. might be hard as he gets used to a new coach and smaller rink.