Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin left the game during the first period against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Ovechkin’s final shift of the stanza was at the 8:16 mark, after spending 1:17 on the ice.
The reason why Ovechkin retreated to the locker room was a bit of a mystery.
NBC Sports Washington cameras captured Ovechkin at the bench before the future Hall of Famer went down the tunnel with head athletic trainer Jason Serbus, suggesting an injury. Ovechkin holds up his left hand to someone off screen.
During intermission, the Capitals PR said that Ovechkin would return in the second period, but did not specify if was hurt.
#Caps Alex Ovechkin will return in the second period. #CapsJackets
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 13, 2019
Capitals assistant coach Blaine Forsythe said to Al Koken during the third period that Ovechkin had an equipment issue.
Blaine Forsythe tells @RealSmokinAl during a third period interview that Alex Ovechkin had "a little issue with his equipment."
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) January 13, 2019
After the game, Capitals head coach Todd Reirden cleared up what happened.
#Caps head coach Todd Reirden talks with the media after a 2-1 OT/loss against the Columbus Blue Jackets. #ALLCAPS #CapsJackets pic.twitter.com/O2NK6MFWAF
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 13, 2019
“He had a cut on his hand,” Reirden said. “That hand that had to be sutured so he could not play. That’s why he was not on the power play. It was just an open cut that needed to be fixed.”
