Leafs Goalie Kallgren Shares Take On Play That Led To Ovechkin Injury

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the Washington Capitals await word on Alex Ovechkin, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Erik Kallgren shared his perspective on what happened on the play that led to the captain’s upper-body injury in the third period of Sunday’s tilt.

Early in the third period, Ovechkin went on the breakaway and tried to go forehand to backhand. During his move, he appeared to trip over Kallgren’s stick and went awkwardly into the boards. The 36-year-old stayed down in visible pain, and a trainer came out to attend to him. However, Ovechkin got up and skated off the ice under his own power, and did not return.

Kallgren said that he didn’t mean to trip Ovechkin on the play and that it was non-intentional.

“I think he skated into my stick and tripped on it. So it was not my intention to trip him, and I hope he’s well,” Kallgren said.

After the play, Kallgren went over to Ovechkin to check on him.

“I just tapped him [after he went down]. Obviously, he was frustrated,” Kallgren said. “I didn’t mean to trip him. I didn’t mean to cause an injury, so I hope he’s fine.”

The Capitals fell 4-3 in the shootout after a rough go-of-it in the third period. Head coach Peter Laviolette had no update on the severity of Ovechkin’s injury. However, per The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir, the team expects him to be in full uniform and on the ice for the team photo on Monday.

Ovechkin’s injury comes at a bad time for Washington, who has three games left in the regular season before the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.