Advertisement

Washington Capitals dodge bullet after captain Alex Ovechkin returns from injury in Game 5

By Elliott Smith, The Sports Xchange
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) lays on the ice after being hit by Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri in the first period of game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. on April 21, 2017. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
1 of 4 | Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) lays on the ice after being hit by Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri in the first period of game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. on April 21, 2017. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON -- Capitals star forward Alexander Ovechkin was injured late in the first period of Friday's Game 5 between Washington and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

As Ovechkin was skating up the ice with 2:28 remaining in the opening frame, he was hit hard in the left knee area on a hip-check by Toronto's Nazem Kadri, who went low to deliver the blow. Ovechkin flipped in the air and lay on the ice for several minutes while his Capitals teammates went after the Maple Leafs' center.

Advertisement

Ovechkin slowly got up and was assisted off the ice by a pair of teammates, but returned for the second period.

Kadri was whistled for tripping, and T.J. Oshie scored a power-play goal to give Washington a 1-0 lead.

Ovechkin has three goals through the first four-plus games of the series.

Latest Headlines