Alex Ovechkin notched a goal and an assist in Russia's quarterfinal loss against the United States on Thursday.

The Russians are now eliminated from medal contention at the IIHF World Championships following an 8-3 drubbing. Ovechkin's Capitals were knocked out of the NHL playoffs on Monday in Game 7 against the New York Rangers, so this hasn't been a very good week for the 27-year-old sniper. He enjoyed a spectacular end to the 2013 season and captured his third Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, but he couldn't muster much offense in the playoffs.

Alex Ovechkin said he had some "bruises" but nothing that affected his performance in the Washington Capitals' opening-round series loss to the New York Rangers.

We would've been a little surprised if Ovechkin revealed a serious injury given the news that he'll play for Russia at the IIHF World Championships immediately. Ovechkin will have to endure another season of questions about his offensive performance after scoring just one goal in seven games against the Rangers.

Alex Ovechkin will join Russia at the IIHF World Championships on Wednesday.

This shouldn't surprise anyone, especially after the Caps scheduled Ovechkin's media session for Tuesday instead of Wednesday like the rest of the team. Ovechkin could play in Russia's quarterfinal matchup, which could be against the U.S. We imagine Ovechkin will have better offensive success in the worlds than he did in the first round of the playoffs.

Alex Ovechkin put some of the blame on the league and its referees for the Capitals not making it out of the first round.

The Rangers had 28 power plays to the Capitals' 16 in the series and that clearly frustrated the Capitals captain. "I am not saying there was a phone call from (the league), but someone just wanted Game 7. For the ratings," Ovechkin told NHL.com contributor Slava Malamud, who translated to English after the loss. "You know, the lockout, escrow, the league needs to make profit. ... I don't know whether the refs were predisposed against us or the league. But to not give obvious penalties (to the Rangers), while for us any little thing was immediately penalized ..." Let's not forget that Ovechkin was held pointless in the final five games of the series, was sent home in the first round of the playoffs for the third time in six years and is now 2-5 in Game 7s.

Alex Ovechkin was caught slamming his stick against the boards during Monday's 5-0 Game 7 loss to the New York Rangers.

It's hard to blame Ovechkin, who was completely shut down and held scoreless after Game 2 by the Rangers' trio of goalie Henrik Lundqvist and defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi. Despite the lack of offensive output, Ovechkin was all over the ice Monday night, delivering game-high 13 hits, many of which were of the bone-crunching variety. This came after he laid down his body to block several Rangers shots in Sunday's Game 6 loss. Still, it'll be hard for Caps fans and pundits to ignore the lack of offense in a series that saw the Caps score just two goals in the final three games combined.

Alex Ovechkin led the Capitals with five shots on goal Sunday, but was unable to find the back of the net in a 1-0 loss.

Ovechkin has struggled to find his way in the series, recording only one goal and one assist through six games, but he'll have an opportunity to redeem himself when Game Seven is played in Washington Monday.

The Washington Capitals will trot out the same group of players against the New York Rangers in Game 6 on Sunday as they did in Game 5.

Tough to argue with a group that won, especially one that got stronger as Game 5 went along. We'll see if Washington can land the knockout blow today.

Superstar forward Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is critical of the ice surface at Madison Square Garden in New York.

"The ice is not that good. I can tell you right now," Ovechkin said when asked what the Caps have learned after their two previous visits to the Garden in their opening-round playoff series against the New York Rangers. "But the atmosphere is unbelievable, the intensity is there, the speed is there. We just have to control our emotion and don't take lots of penalties because we give them chances when they play 5-on-4. ..We just have to be disciplined and stay same way." The Caps lead the series 3-2 and can eliminate the Rangers with a victory today in New York.

Alex Ovechkin has been named a finalist for the Hart Trophy.

'The Great Eight' is one of only 11 players to win the Hart in consecutive years (2008-09) and he's up for the Ted Lindsay Award as well after returning to form in the latter portion of the lockout-shortened season. Ovechkin led the league with 32 goals in 48 games and he ended up with 56 points despite a sluggish start. His play helped the Capitals win the Southeast Division.

Alex Ovechkin knows he has to better and that the Capitals' top line has to rebound from a disappointing two games in New York.

"Our line have to create chances," Ovechkin said Thursday following practice. "And last game, I don't think we create lots of opportunity for our line, and everybody knows Backie, me and JoJo have to play better. We have the most minutes on the ice. We have to have at least 10 shots a night." Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Marcus Johansson combined for just four shots in Wednesday's 4-3 loss and none of them recorded a point. They will look to bounce back in Game 5 on Friday night.