Ovechkin injured at world championships, taken to hospital
Alex Ovechkin was taken to a hospital with a right leg injury after a collision in a game against Germany.
The Washington Capitals and Russian captain went down injured in a game in the IIHF World Championships after colliding with forward Marcus Kink midway through the third period. Ovechkin stayed on the ice for several minutes before he needed assistance to leave the ice.
Although there has been no official statement of his status, the video is not promising.
Ovechkin took a hit to his right leg, tumbled to the ice and had to be helped off the rink.
Take a look at the hip check.
Ovechkin struggled to put weight on his right leg and did not return to the game, which Russia won 3-0.
Kink was not penalized for the incident.
Russia coach Oleg Znarok said he couldn't "share any information now" about the injury, and that more details would be disclosed after Ovechkin was examined.
The Capitals said in a statement their medical staff was "working with Ovechkin and Team Russia to gather additional information."
Russian sports reporter Slava Malamud shared more troubling reports.
Alex Ovechkin has been taken off in an ambulance. Evaluation still pending, but according to inside info, "it's pretty bad". #Caps
— Slava Malamud (@SlavaMalamud) May 18, 2014
Russia has so far been undefeated in the tournament, with Ovechkin scoring three goals and added six assists thus far.
"It's an unfortunate incident and we hope he's OK," Germany coach Pat Cortina said. "He's a great player and a great ambassador for the game of ice hockey. We need players like that and hopefully he will be fine and we'll see him back on the ice soon."
Russia is waiting for the arrival of another star forward, Evgeni Malkin, who agreed to join the team at the worlds after his Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated from the NHL playoffs by the New York Rangers. Malkin could be available for Tuesday's final group-stage game against Belarus.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
