ARLINGTON, Va. -- Alex Ovechkin will be in the lineup when the Washington Capitals play the Nashville Predators on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NBCSWA, NHL.TV).

Ovechkin, who leads the NHL with 46 goals, didn't practice Wednesday and was listed as day to day after he was slow to get up after crashing feet first into the end boards in the first period of a 4-2 win at the St. Louis Blues on Monday.

"I feel fine," Ovechkin said after the morning skate Thursday. "It's always scary when you hit the boards and you can't protect yourself. But obviously, I got lucky over there and it can be much worse. But I feel pretty good. Nothing big happened."

The 32-year-old finished the game and scored an empty-net goal with 1:31 remaining, but the Capitals held him out of practice Wednesday as a precaution after they were off Tuesday.

"I just want to play," Ovechkin said. "If it was a situation [where] it would be risky I would probably stay out of the game, but I feel pretty good. I talked to the trainers and they said everything's fine."

The Capitals (48-25-7) clinched first place in the Metropolitan Division and cannot catch the Boston Bruins or Tampa Bay Lightning for first place in the Eastern Conference, so their playoff positioning can't change.

Ovechkin leads the race for the Maurice Richard Trophy, awarded to the NHL's leading goal-scorer, and has a chance to score 50 goals for the eighth time in his 13-season NHL career.

"If you have a chance, why not?" Ovechkin said. "But if I didn't feel right and I didn't feel well, I don't want to risk to [not] play in the playoffs. I don't want to be selfish. I feel pretty good and nothing's bothering me. I tried yesterday, I tried today and I told [coach Barry Trotz], I'm ready."

Video: WSH@NYR: Ovechkin pots his 45th goal of the season

Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy are the only players in NHL history with more than Ovechkin's seven 50-goal seasons with nine each.

Ovechkin has a two-goal lead on Patrik Laine of the Winnipeg Jets (44 goals), is three ahead of William Karlsson of the Vegas Golden Knights (43) and four ahead of Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins (42). Ovechkin is bidding to lead the NHL in goals for the seventh time, which would tie Bobby Hull for the most in League history.

Ovechkin has been durable throughout his career, missing 29 games. He has not missed a game the past two seasons. He is scheduled to be honored before the game for playing his 1,000th NHL game April 1.

"He stayed off [Wednesday], and that's why lineup-wise we weren't sure what we were going to do until today," Trotz said. "He feels 100 percent, so we're putting him in."