Okay, he’s just showing off now. (Photo credit: @mpoindc)

Alex Ovechkin shot a commercial for Verizon on Wednesday afternoon, and the extras were… well, pretty much everybody who walked past Verizon Center. Our own resident artist Rachel Cohen was at the event and gave us the scoop. Ovi, dressed in his full Washington Capitals gear, walked out through the front doors of the Verizon Center holding a bundle of hockey sticks. The Russian machine approached some passersby and asked if they’d like to play some pick-up with him. And then, right there on F Street, they played. Really.

The Red Rockers came out of Verizon Center to cheer on Ovi. The PA voice of the Capitals, Wes Johnson, did play-by-play. Owner Ted Leonsis and John Walton were there as well.

The game was three-on-three. Ovi picked players out of the crowd to play every few minutes. Judging by the chatter, a little game of flash shinny with the Great Eight has changed some lives.

@ovi8 you made my day when you handed me the hockey stick that you played with during the commercial

— Cheesie (@cheesiepeesie) March 27, 2013

A #Capitals surprise on the streets of #DC today. Thanks for the fun, @ovi8 #Ovechkin! pic.twitter.com/rQIy2AfOit

— Pamela Brossman (@PamelaBrossman) March 27, 2013

I was just within 10 feet of Alex Ovechkin. No big deal. pic.twitter.com/wkUjYFbsky

— Chi Sports Mike (@ChiSportsLife) March 27, 2013

Hockey players are the best. They are so frigging down to earth.

Here are some more photos from the day.

Photo credit: @SergeyKocharov

Photo credit: @washcaps

Photo credit: @washcaps

Photo credit: @krenz105

Photo credit: @GeorgeWNEW

Ovi and Wes. (Photo credit: @wesjohnsonvoice)

Photo credit: @mkpanda78