Alexander Ovechkin is thrilled that his Washington Capitals will face an Edmonton Oilers team without Connor McDavid.
The Russian superstar will continue his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s goal record at Rogers Place tonight, but it will be a game without the Oilers captain. McDavid was suspended three games on Monday for a cross-check that he laid on Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland over the weekend.
Daily Hive asked Ovechkin about his thoughts on the play, and he gave a pretty funny answer.
“It’s the game, it’s the passion,” Ovechkin said. “I don’t think [McDavid] meant to do that.
“It sucks for him, good for us, he’s not playing tonight so we’ll take it.”
“Sucks for him, good for us.”
Alex Ovechkin on Connor McDavid’s suspension 😂 pic.twitter.com/8Hq1Mm95Db
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 21, 2025
Ovechkin is right that McDavid’s absence from tonight’s game will give the Capitals an advantage. The Oilers captain has torched Washington throughout his career with nine goals and 24 points in just 14 games. McDavid has seven points in his last two meetings with Ovechkin’s Capitals.
That shouldn’t be the only reason Washington feels good about itself in the Alberta capital. The team has been among the league’s very best this season with a 31-10-5 record and sits atop the NHL standings with 67 points.
The soon-to-be all-time goals leader was also asked if the NHL needs to protect their star players better, to which he had a lukewarm answer.
“This is my 20th year [in the NHL] and my first year was totally different hockey,” Ovechkin said. “You have to be ready to battle out there.”
Tonight will certainly be a test for this Oilers squad that they will have to face without their captain.
Puck drop is set for 7 pm MT.