NHL playoffs 2019: Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov in concussion protocol after Alex Ovechkin fight

Thomas Lott

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NHL playoffs 2019: Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov in concussion protocol after Alex Ovechkin fight image

Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov is dealing with the after effects of his fight with Alex Ovechkin.

Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour told reporters Tuesday that the rookie winger is in the NHL's concussion protocol after the 19-year-old was knocked out by Ovechkin in Game 3 on Monday.

Brind'Amour did emphasize, though, that Svechnikov went to the hospital and "everything checked out."

Svechnikov got into it with Ovechkin last night after a couple of shots from the three-time Hart Trophy winner.

The two then dropped gloves and Ovechkin hit the rookie with three hard rights before the teen fell to the ice and hit the back of his head hard.

Ovechkin is not known as a fighter — this was only the fourth of his career — but the 6-3 winger can hold his own and is known for heavy hits on the ice, so he is a tough veteran who shouldn't be messed with.

Svechnikov found this out the hard way Monday. Ovechkin was concerned for the youngster after the game, a 5-0 victory for Carolina.

"First of all, I hope he's OK," Ovechkin said. "Yeah, I'm not a big fighter, and he's the same. He asked me to fight and said, 'Let's go.' I hope he's OK. You don't want to see a guy get hurt or something. And you just go a different way.

"We got maybe a little bit frustrated and too confident. We just have to forget about it and move forward."

The 2018 No. 2 overall pick praised Ovechkin hours before the two dropped gloves.

"I followed him as a kid. Good guy. Leader of the team. It's fun to play against him," the youngster said, via the Raleigh News and Observer.

The Capitals lead the series 2-1 going into Game 4 on Thursday.

Thomas Lott