Caps star Alex Ovechkin knocks out 19-year-old rookie during NHL playoff fight
- Washington star flattens Andrei Svechnikov during 5-0 loss
- Svechnikov hits head after barrage of punches from Ovechkin
A barrage of punches from Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin could have an ongoing impact on the reigning Stanley Cup champions’ playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Ovechkin floored Carolina rookie Andrei Svechnikov with a right hook during a fight in the first period of Monday night’s 5-0 loss to the Hurricanes in Game 3 of their first-round series. It 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. Svechnikov, who had two goals in his playoff debut last week, was helped to the locker room and didn’t return. That left his status unclear for Thursday’s Game 4 and beyond with the Capitals up 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.