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Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin Makes Big Career Decision: Report
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin Makes Big Career Decision: Report originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After breaking the legendary Wayne Gretzky's longstanding record for most career goals, few would blame Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin if he decided to call it a career. Advertisement There has been plenty of speculation about what the future holds for the 39-year-old Russian, and Capitals fans got a little scare last week when an email sent out referring to the 2025-26 season as Ovechkin's last — a decision the team quickly addressed as inaccurate. 'No decision has been made on Alex Ovechkin's future following the 2025-26 NHL season. An email was sent from an individual with the corporate sales department that mistakenly alluded to next year being Alex Ovechkin's final year,' the team wrote on X. Though Ovechkin has yet to make an official decision about how many more years—if any—he plans to play in the NHL, the three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner (NHL MVP award) has reportedly decided when his next hockey game will be, and it's sooner than some fans might think. Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after scoring career goal 888 at Capital One Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images In a recent interview with Russian news outlet Match TV, Utah Mammoth defenseman and fellow countryman Mikhail Sergachev disclosed that Ovechkin will play in the second annual 'Match of the Year' between all-stars from the NHL and the Russian Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) on July 13. Advertisement Ovechkin's reported decision is a big one given it could be the final time he plays in international competition given the Russian national team has been banned from the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, due to the country's ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The first iteration of the NHL-KHL exhibition happened last year at CSKA Arena in Moscow and ended in an 8-8 tie, but Ovechkin made quite an impact, scoring the game's first goal and winning MVP. Ovechkin, who scored 44 goals and 73 points in 65 games this season, is back in Russia for the offseason having flown back at the end of May after the Capitals were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes. Next year is the last on Ovechkin's contract with the Capitals. Barring a contract extension being signed between now and next offseason, Ovechkin will hit unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2026. Advertisement Ovechkin has expressed a desire to finish his professional hockey career with Dynamo Moscow, the KHL team he began his career with and played for back in the 2012-13 season during the NHL lockout. Related: Sidney Crosby Sends 6-Word Alex Ovechkin Warning After Capitals Season Ends This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Morocco World
4 days ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
Russia vs Nigeria: When, Where, and How to Watch Friday's Historic Friendly
Doha – Russia and Nigeria will meet for the first time ever in an international friendly match on Friday at Moscow's iconic Luzhniki Stadium. The match kicks off at 7:00 p.m. (GMT+1) as both teams look to continue their recent strong form. The Super Eagles enter the contest fresh off their success at the Unity Cup in Brentford, where they defeated Jamaica in the final. This follows their 2-1 victory over Ghana earlier in the international window. Coach Eric Chelle's men will aim to maintain their unbeaten run despite missing several key players. Nigeria will be without star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman due to injury. This leaves the door open for Belgian Ebony Shoe and Golden Boot winner Tolu Arokodare to lead the attack. Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is also expected to feature prominently in what will be a depleted Nigerian squad. Russia comes into the match having won their last eight games by a combined score of 44-0. Their most recent outings in March resulted in back-to-back 5-0 victories over Grenada and Zambia. The Russians have been banned from competing against European countries since 2021 due to the war in Ukraine, instead playing friendlies against teams from other confederations. Russian coach Valeri Karpin dismissed suggestions that Nigeria is bringing a weakened side. 'There are always absentees, but that doesn't make the match less competitive,' Karpin stated. 'Nigeria still has top-quality players, and this will be a good test for us.' The match will be played at the 78,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium, which hosted the 2018 FIFA World Cup final. Nigerian fans can watch the game live on Match TV, Afrosport, and the official NFF TV channel. Nigeria's predicted lineup includes Maduka Okoye in goal, with a defense of Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, William Ekong, and Bruno Onyemaechi. The midfield will likely feature Raphael Onyedika, Christantus Uche, Frank Onyeka, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, while Tolu Arokodare and Moses Simon are expected to lead the attack. Russia will likely field Matvey Safonov in goal, with Ilya Vakhaniya, Maxim Osipenko, Alexander Silyanov, and Yuri Gorshkov in defense. The midfield should consist of Alexey Batrakov, Anton Miranchuk, and Danil Prutsev, while the attack will feature Maksim Glushenkov, Andrey Mostovoy, and Nikolay Komlichenko. Despite Russia entering as favorites on paper, the Super Eagles' speed and firepower could pose problems. Under Chelle, Nigeria has been tenacious and energetic without the ball, which may prove challenging for the Russians. Both teams have been scoring freely in recent matches, suggesting goals are likely in this encounter. The Super Eagles arrived in Moscow earlier this week and began training on Tuesday in preparation for the fixture. This match represents another opportunity for Chelle to assess his squad ahead of upcoming World Cup qualifiers, where he has emphasized the need for improvement if Nigeria is to secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Read also: Ireland vs Senegal: When, How to Watch Dublin Friendly Tags: Friendly GamesnigeriaRussia
