Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin suffered an apparent right leg injury Sunday while playing for Russia in the IIHF World Championships in Minsk, Belarus.
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According to the Washington Post, Ovechkin was injured during an open-ice hip check from Germany's Marcus Kink during the third period of a preliminary-round game. The exact nature and severity of the injury is unknown, according to the report, but an MRI on his knee came back negative for a tear.
Ovechkin was unable to skate off the ice on his own power causing an initial panic that the injury was more severe, but the MRI relieved any stress. Ovechkin left the game following the hit and it was feared that the injury was severe, though Russian coach Oleg Znarok couldn't provide any details following the contest.
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"We can not share any information because it's not known yet," Znarok told reporters through an interpreter, according to the Washington Post. "It's going to be released later."
Shortly after, a Russian doctor revealed that Ovechkin's condition was "better than we thought" and he was seen walking to the team hotel after his visit to the hospital, though he had a noticeable limp.
Ovechkin took to Instagram to share a photo of himself with his thumbs up to reassure fans of his health:
Ovechkin is expected to at least miss the team's next game on Tuesday
Washington team doctors are working with doctors of the Russian team to keep the public apprised as to the severity of the injury. It's already been a tumultuous offseason for the Capitals as the team fired general manager George McPhee and head coach Adam Oates, and they will continue to search for replacements this offseason.
The Caps fired their GM and coach after the team failed to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years. Ovechkin is a centerpiece of the Capitals and their pursuit of the franchise's first Stanley Cup.
Ovechkin, 28, scored an NHL-best 51 goals in 2013-14 in 78 games for the Capitals while adding 28 assists for 79 points.
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