Oh boy.
On Monday Night Alex Ovechkin and his Washington Capitals were eliminated from the NHL Playoffs by the New York Rangers. On Tuesday morning, Pat Leonard of The New York Daily News reported that Ovi suggested to a Russian reporter that the NHL wanted the Rangers to win game 6 and force a game 7.
“Not saying there was a phone call, but they wanted Game 7,” Ovechkin reportedly said in Russian, translated and tweeted by Slava Malamud, a senior writer for Russian sports daily Sports-Express. “For ratings. You know, lockout, escrow, league must make profit.”
The game in question did see the Rangers get awarded five power plays. The Capitals had none.
Ovechkin is now heading to Europe to play for Russia in the World Championships. They take on the USA in the quarterfinals on Thursday night.
