Alex Ovechkin knocks out Andrei Svechnikov in fight during Capitals-Hurricanes Game 3

That was clear Monday night when an unexpected fight broke out in the Washington Capitals' game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Alex Ovechkin and Hurricanes young cornerstone Andrei Svechnikov dropped the gloves in the first period, and in a bit of a scary scene, Svechnikov appeared to be knocked out by the longtime Capitals star. 

The 19-year-old Svechnikov, who was the second overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft, was immediately attended to and had to be helped back to the locker room after quickly falling to the ice. 

For Ovechkin, 33, the fight against his Russian countryman was a rare drop of the gloves. Hockey Fights lists it as just Ovechkin's fourth career fight, and first since December 2010. 

The fight broke out as the result of some pushing and shoving with the sticks between the two players in the Hurricanes' offensive zone. The 'Canes led 1-0 at the time of the fight. 

Svechnikov was later ruled out for the game with an upper-body injury. 

Alex Ovechkin fights Andrei Svechnikov during the first period of Game 3. (Photo: Grant Halverson, Getty Images)

Carolina went on to dominate the game, outshooting Washington 45-18 en route to a 5-0 win. 

"First of all I hope he is OK," Ovechkin told reporters  after the game when discussing his fight with Svechnikov. 

"I'm not a big fighter. He's the same. He asked me to fight... You don't want to see a guy get hurt."  

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour didn't exactly see the fight as fair, saying Ovechkin's gloves were off first and that Svechnikov has "never fought in his life, and I'm pretty sure Ovi knew that. So that stuff bothers me." 

Brind'Amour gave an update on Svechnikov Tuesday morning, saying he had gone to the hospital, his tests checked out and he was in concussion protocol. The team is being careful about when he returns and he isn't expected to play in Game 4 on Thursday.