A death threat aimed at Alexander Ovechkin was posted on a Penguins message board, forcing authorities to investigate it as a serious threat to the Capitals' star players.
Channel 11 News in Pittsburgh first reported the death threat. Once alerted to it by the Capitals, Pittsburgh police took the threat seriously.
"We became aware of an inappropriate comment on a message board and referred it to appropriate authorities," a Capitals' statement read. "We appreciate their diligence and have every confidence in our club's safety."
The threat was posted by a 17-year-old from Chambersburg, Pa., which is in central Pennsylvania. It read, "I'm going to kill Ovechkin and I don't care if I have to go to jail to do it."
Pittsburgh Police Lt. Kevin Kraus told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that there was no indication the teen went to Pittsburgh for Wednesday night's game or that he would be in the city Friday for Game 4.
The Post-Gazette reported that state troopers seized a computer from the teen's home.
Ovechkin was seen walking out of the team's hotel Thursday afternoon and appeared to be fine. As if a little death threat would strike fear into the heart of the NHL's most-talented player.
Sports
Ovie's scored in all three games of the Caps' second-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, including a hat trick in Game 2, for a total of six goals.
Washington leads the series 2-1. Game 4 is scheduled for Friday night in Pittsburgh.
