RALEIGH, N.C. — A barrage of punches from Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin could have an impact on the Stanley Cup champions’ playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Ovechkin floored Carolina rookie Andrei Svechnikov with a right hook during the first period of Monday night’s 5-0 loss to the Hurricanes in Game 3 of their first-round series. This was a rare fight for Ovechkin, one that knocked the 19-year-old Svechnikov from the game when he banged his helmet on the ice as he fell backward and ended up in concussion protocol.
Svechnikov, who had two goals in his playoff debut last week, was helped to the locker room and didn’t return.