Refusing to dwell in the disappointment of another heart-breaking Game 7 defeat, Alex Ovechkin’s hockey year will go on.
Hours after being eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the New York Rangers, the Washington Capitals captain is flying to the Czech Republic, where he will join Team Russia Friday in pursuit of a world championship.
The Russian national team’s general Manager, Andrei Safranov, told Russian media that management will use its last open roster spot on Ovechkin.
“Today we play against the Swedes, after that we will register Ovechkin,” Safranov announced, via IIHF. “Under normal circumstances he should fly to the Czech Republic tonight.”
Team Russia, which already dresses stars Ilya Kovalchuk, Evgeni Malkin and Vladimir Tarasenko, defeated a solid Swedish squad 5-3 Thursday in the quarterfinals, so Ovechkin will arrive in time to compete for a medal.
Russia finished third in Pool B’s preliminary round behind Team USA and Team Finland. But with Russia’s 5-3 defeat of Sweden, it will play Team USA in Saturday’s semifinal.
Ovechkin has scored 31 goals and 57 points in 65 career games at the World Championship. He is a three-time gold medallist at the event, helping his country to victory in 2008, 2012 and 2014.
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