Not long removed from his transatlantic flight to Prague for the IIHF World Championships, three days after the Washington Capitals’ season ended in Game 7 of the second round to the New York Rangers, forward Alex Ovechkin made a quick impact for Team Russia, scoring the second goal in a 4-0 thumping over the United States that vaulted them into the championships to face Canada.
Seizing a neutral-zone turnover midway through the third period, with Russia already ahead 1-0, Ovechkin sidestepped the swinging stick of one American skater, deked around another and whipped the puck through the open legs of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.