Washington star Alex Ovechkin went down late in the first period of his team’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs Friday after a big hit from opposing center Nazem Kadri.
Ovechkin was launched into the air, then hit the ice and writhed in pain for several seconds before finding stillness, face down, still on the ice. He seemed to clutch at his left knee and was not putting weight on his left leg as a trainer helped him off and down the tunnel.
Ovechkin gave Capitals fans quite the scare but he was apparently not badly hurt.
Ovechkin came back out for the second period and started it on the ice. He seemed to skate normally, and delivered a hit to Jake Gardiner shortly after returning.
Kadri was given two minutes for tripping at T.J. Oshie scored on the ensuing power play, but losing Ovechkin could alter the course of the Capitals playoffs entirely should he miss significant time.
Ovechkin has scored three goals in the playoffs so far.
• Nora Princiotti can be reached at nprinciotti@washingtontimes.com.
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