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WASHINGTON – Carolina Hurricanes rookie Andrei Svechnikov is hoping to play the sixth game against the Washington Capitals on Monday after suffering a concussion in a fight with Alex Ovechkin a week earlier.
Svechnikov took part in his first full-team training session on Saturday in the morning Hurricane session before the fifth game of their first-round series. The 19-year-old Russian winger was wearing a yellow non-contact jersey and should clear the NHL's concussion protocol before returning to the game.
Coach Rod Brind's Love did not consider Svechnikov's status for the rest of the series. Svechnikov is one of three injured Carolina strikers alongside Micheal Ferland and Jordan Martinook.
Ovechkin knocked out Svechnikov with a right hook during a fight in the first half of the third match. Both players said the other had asked to fight.
"He first asked me to fight, I'm not a superhero, ask me to fight first," Svechnikov said Saturday in his first interview since 39; incident. "I said yes, I just want to defend myself."
It was Ovechkin's first fight since 2010 and the fourth of his career, according to HockeyFights.com. Svechnikov, who loved Ovechkin growing up and met his hero at the 2018 Stanley Cup final, said the Capitals captain had called after the game.
"I'm just talking to him a little, you know," Svechnikov said. "I said that sometimes it happened, you never know."
Ovechkin said after the third match that he hoped Svechnikov was fine.
"You do not want to see a guy getting hurt or anything like that," Ovechkin said.
Svechnikov, the second overall pick in the 2018 draft, scored two goals and one assist before leaving early in the third match. Super star.
"He's fine," said Brind's Love. "It's all that's said to me." So, until (the trainers) tell me that it's even a possibility, I continue as if he would not be (available). "
The Hurricanes and Capitals are tied for two games each. The winner of the series will face the New York Islanders in the second round.
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