Alex Ovechkin crushes 6’8” Elmer Söderblom in monster hit!

Alex Ovechkin sent a loud message Thursday night — and it wasn’t with a goal.

Early in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings, the Washington Capitals captain laid a huge hit on 6’8” forward Elmer Söderblom, immediately setting the tone for the game.

The collision, which quickly went viral, was a reminder that even at this stage of his career, Ovechkin is still more than willing and able to bring the physical edge.

Watch it below:

For a player often defined by his scoring prowess, moments like this highlight the complete package Ovechkin continues to bring to the ice. Throwing his weight around against one of the biggest bodies in the league, the Caps superstar showed there’s still plenty of fire left in his game.

The hit energized Washington early and sent a clear message to both benches: Ovechkin isn’t slowing down, and he’s not backing off. Whatever doubts remain about age or wear and tear, plays like this make one thing clear that he’s still very much capable of changing a game without the puck on his stick.