Ovechkin injured knee on Kadri hit, won't need surgery

We knew Alex Ovechkin was playing hurt in the playoffs, but now we know just how hobbled he was.

The Washington Capitals star said Friday he played through a knee injury suffered on the hit from Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri in their first-round series, adding that he also fought through a hamstring ailment sustained in Game 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.

Ovechkin briefly left Game 5 against the Leafs after the low hip check from Kadri.

He said he won't require surgery for either injury.

The Russian Hockey Federation revealed Thursday that Ovechkin finished the Stanley Cup Playoffs on pain-numbing injections and won't join his countrymen at the ongoing World Championship.

The Capitals were eliminated by the Penguins in Game 7 on Wednesday night.