Ovechkin Played Through Hamstring, Knee Injuries In Playoffs
By STEPHEN WHYNO, AP Hockey Writer
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin played through hamstring and knee injuries that hampered him in the playoffs.
Ovechkin says he felt something in his hamstring during Game 3 of the second-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins and needed injections to numb the pain the rest of the way. A hit by Toronto's Nazem Kadri in Game 5 of the first round caused the left knee injury, which Ovechkin downplayed.
The 31-year-old captain had eight points in 13 playoff games as Washington was eliminated before the conference finals for the ninth time in as many chances. At the Capitals' exit-day meetings Friday, he didn't say how badly the injuries affected his play but they were bad enough not to play for Russia at the world championships.
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