- Alex Ovechkin shoved Flyers defenseman Hunter McDonald to the ice in Washington’s 5-2 win
- The 41-year-old has four points and 15 hits through 11 games this season
- Read below for Dylan Strome’s reaction and the shove video
Alex Ovechkin still has the strength to move a grown man. The 41-year-old Capitals captain put Flyers defenseman Hunter McDonald on the ice with a shove in the first period of Washington’s 5-2 win on Wednesday night.
It came during a net-front scrum with the Capitals up 1-0. Ovechkin leaned in and McDonald went sprawling.
Check out the shove:
Dylan Strome was asked about the play and Ovechkin’s strength at his age.
“Yeah, I mean, no surprise really,” Strome said. “He’s a big body.”
Ovechkin didn’t record a point, but it was one of his stronger games of the season. Washington outshot Philadelphia 6-4 and controlled 69.9 percent of the expected goals with him on the ice at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Strome liked plenty beyond the shove. He said Ovechkin was poised with the puck on the power play, skated well, made hits and set up a Little Pro chance in the first period.
“I thought he played great today,” Strome said.
Through 11 games of his final NHL season, Ovechkin has four points (one goal, three assists) and 15 hits. Alex Tuch recently summed up Ovechkin’s approach to hockey after the win, and Barry Trotz has urged him to enjoy the farewell tour.
The Capitals host the Predators on Thursday night.
