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Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Hockey superstar Alex Ovechkin sent Thomas Nosek to the ice with a crushing hit during the Washington Capitals' loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The sequence occurred at the start of the second period during the Stanley Cup rematch, which Vegas won 5-3 on Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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The game was tied at 1-1 just a few minutes into the bridge frame when the Capitals had the puck in transition. Defenseman Tom Wilson lost control of the puck, turning it over near the blue line.
That's where Nosek picked it up. He went to touch it past the blue line when Ovechkin came cruising in. Ovechkin used his large frame to pummel Nosek, sending him flying back over the blue line and separating him from the puck and his stick.
The Nosek collision gave Ovechkin 79 hits on the season. He finished the game with seven hits, pushing his season total to 85 hits.
Ryan Reaves gave Vegas a 1-0 lead with a power play goal 2:30 into the game. Jakub Vrana tied it for Washington about 13 minutes later. Ovechkin broke the 1-1 tie with his 20th goal of the season 11:42 into the second frame.
But the Golden Knights dominated down the stretch. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare lit the lamp for the fourth time this season 2:33 into the third period for the Golden Knights. Cody Eakin added another Vegas score 16 seconds later for a 3-2 advantage.
Vrana added another tally 11:40 into the third period, but Nate Schmidt put the game away with two goals in the final 1:25 for Vegas.
The Golden Knights host the Chicago Blackhawks at 10 p.m. on Thursday at T-Mobile Arena. Washington battles the Arizona Coyotes at 9 p.m. on Thursday at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz.
