HELSINKI, May 15 (R-Sport) – Minutes after landing at the Helsinki airport on Wednesday, Alexander Ovechkin told a swarm of reporters he is ready to step on the ice for Russia’s quarterfinal game against the United States in the world hockey championship.
“With my health, everything is fine,” said the Washington Capitals forward, who became available to join Team Russia after the Capitals were eliminated from the NHL playoffs on Monday.
“I slept the whole flight and I’m ready to play.”
Ovechkin told reporters in Washington on Tuesday that he played through the first-round series against the New York Rangers with a "couple bruises but nothing major."
He had been expected to practice Wednesday night at Helsinki’s Hartwall Arena with back-up goaltender Vasily Koshechkin, but called off the workout after consulting with the coaching staff.
Regardless of Ovechkin's game shape, it remains unclear what role he will play with the national team. The Moscow native won his third Maurice Richard trophy as the NHL's top goal-scorer this season with 32.
Russia is tied for the tournament lead in goal scoring with 29, thanks largely to New Jersey Devils wing Ilya Kovalchuk, who leads all scorers with eight goals, and KHL star Alexander Radulov, who has five.
They play the Americans on Thursday.
