Alex Ovechkin is one of the NHL’s best players, there is no arguing that. But when it comes to his leadership skills, those came into question Wednesday night.
The Bruins beat the Capitals in double overtime in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead, as each game of the series has gone to overtime so far.
On the winning goal, goalie Ilya Samsonov and defenseman Justin Schultz had a costly miscommunication behind the net that allowed Bruins forward Craig Smith to grab the loose puck and wrap it around into the net to give Boston the win.
The cameras then caught Ovechkin, the Capitals’ captain, breaking his stick over the boards and then yelling, presumably at Samsonov, in Russian.
Russian reporter Slava Malamud says he read Ovechkin’s lips and he was saying, “Don’t sleep, b*tch,” in Russian.
People on social media quickly ripped Ovechkin for what was seen as a poor look for a team leader, including Penguins broadcaster Phil Bourque.