Alex Ovechkin laid out Jake Gardiner in the first period with a mighty (and clean) hit. One wonders if that hit pissed off Nazem Kadri, as he did a dirty hit on Ovechkin later that period.

Ovi flipped, suffering an apparent leg injury. He stayed down.

^ That’s your nightmare scenario.

Video

Here’s the hit from Kadri. It’s late, it’s clipping, it’s bad.

Ovi did not get up.

Kadri’s knee first made contact with Ovechkin’s left shin.

The Caps head athletic trainer, Greg Smith, rushed out and tended to Ovi, who required help to get to the locker room.

The refs called it a minor penalty for tripping, which is laughable.

On the resulting power play, the Caps were furious. Nicklas Backstrom put a shot on net, and TJ Oshie scopped up the rebound to score just 40 seconds later.

Here’s another look.

Ovechkin did not return in the first period. We are watching his status as close as we’ve watched anything in our career, but here’s one perspective on the matter.

8:15 PM update: OVI DOESN’T BREAK. He started the second period.

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