NHL star Alexander Ovechkin expects to play...
at the last moment, but the vice-captain backed the decision, saying the team had "a lot of injuries, and simply needed a rest from hockey, from the ice."He refused to discuss the health of center Sergei Zinoviev, who was unable to finish the final group stage match with the Czechs due to a leg injury.
Ovechkin devoted a lot of time on Monday to media interviews - firstly with U.S. television crews - after criticism that Russia"s players, and particularly the two-time reigning NHL MVP, were keeping to themselves after games.
He explained his distance by his desire to focus on the gold and eliminate other distractions.
The Russian coaching staff may have a similar idea, as the team"s practice on Tuesday is timed to coincide with the start of the Canada-Germany match, at 4.30 p.m. local time. Twenty-four hours later - at 3.30 a.m. Moscow time on Thursday - Ovechkin and Russia themselves expect to be facing off against the Olympic hosts.