Alexander Ovechkin has been in the news a lot lately.
The Washington Capitals superstar was at the center of attention Tuesday night in Pittsburgh where he was a key player in one of the NHL’s most entertaining games of the season. Ovechkin scored a goal and added an assist as the Caps knocked off the Pittsburgh Penguins.
One of the game’s biggest plays came, coincidentally, on an Ovechkin back-check. The Russian forward raced back into his own zone to try and slow a Kris Letang breakaway. To slow the Penguins defenseman, Ovechkin delivered a two-handed slash to Letang that sent him spilling into the boards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzscf-UvyE4
Sure looks like a penalty, but somehow went uncalled. Perhaps NBC commentator Mike Milbury said it best during the intermission report of another game, simply asking “How the hell did (the referees) miss that?”
Penguins fans decided they’d get retaliation for the slash later in the game. As the two teams got carried away and things got a little silly on the ice, “Ovi sucks” chants started to rain down on Ovechkin. So, too, did a likely overpriced beer launched over the glass and on to the Washington bench from an unruly Pittsburgh fan.
There’s no video of Ovechkin being hit with the beer, but here’s the aftermath.
Capitals equipment manager Greg Smith also was struck by some of the unfriendly carbonated fire, which he joked about after the game.
Caps head coach Barry Trotz also poked fun at the whole thing, too.
“(Ovechkin) was probably thirsty anyway,” Trotz quipped after the game, according to CSN Washington.
This all comes just a few days after Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf ripped Ovechkin, accusing him of diving in their game Sunday night.
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
