Alex Ovechkin has hilarious response regarding Connor McDavid's suspension ahead of Oilers clash

By Jackson Weber

Modified Jan 21, 2025 21:02 GMT

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NHL fans were preparing to watch another edition of Alex Ovechkin against Connor McDavid on Tuesday night. Unfortunately, that won't happen. The Oilers superstar was officially suspended for three games on Monday for cross-checking Conor Garland of the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.

McDavid will not appeal the decision from the NHL's Department of Player Safety, therefore his ban begins tonight against Washington. It will be the second suspension of his 688-game career. He was handed a two-game ban in 2019 for an illegal hit to Nick Leddy's head.

In his pregame media availability, Ovechkin was asked to share his thoughts on Saturday's altercation between McDavid and Conor Garland, which led to the three-game suspension.

"It's a game, you know, it's passion obviously, I don't think he meant to do that," Ovechkin said. "But, you know, it's, sucks for him, good for us he's not playing tonight, so. We'll take it."

It's the exact kind of humourous response you expect to hear from Ovechkin. Ovechkin knows his fair share about suspensions as the Russian winger has been suspended three times for charging, boarding and a knee-on-knee hit. He's also been punished for skipping the All-Star game in 2016 and 2019.

Alex Ovechkin continues to inch closer to Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal-scoring record

Alex Ovechkin's chase of Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goal-scoring record is in full flight. Despite missing 16 games in November and December with a broken Fibula, Ovi still has a great chance to take sole possession of the record this season.

The Great 8 has 874 career goals, just 20 shy of The Great One's 894. Ovechkin has 21 goals in 30 games during the 2024-25 campaign. He’ll have 36 games to score the 20 goals needed to tie Gretzky, or the 21 plus to surpass him.

The captain's resurgence after a down 2023-24 season has contributed to the Washington Capitals' tremendous success in 2024-25. The Capitals sit atop the NHL standings with a 31-10-5 record, with 67 points through just 46 games.

Ovechkin will continue his pursuit of greatness as the Caps are in Edmonton to face the Connor McDavid-less Oilers at Rogers Place. The puck drops at 9 p.m. EST.