Alex Ovechkin jokes about getting well-wishes from Vladimir Putin

Golden Knights, Capitals ready to put on a show in Stanley Cup
SportsPulse: We have the makings of a great Stanley Cup Final on our hands and USA TODAY Sports' Kevin Allen breaks it all down.
USA TODAY Sports
LAS VEGAS — Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin’s impishness came out when he was asked about how his home country in Russia is reacting to his first trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
“(President Vladimir) Putin called me and wished me luck,” Ovechkin, said, pausing for effect. “That’s a joke.”
Putin is a big hockey fan, and Ovechkin created a stir last fall when he said on Instagram that he was joining a social-media movement in support of Putin called "Putin Team" to “show everyone a strong and united Russia.”
Ovechkin, 32, is making his first trip to the Stanley Cup Final. His Capitals are playing the Vegas Golden Knights in the best-of-seven series that starts Monday (8 p.m., NBC).