{"id":138436,"date":"2025-08-12T01:45:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T01:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/138436\/"},"modified":"2025-08-12T01:45:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T01:45:12","slug":"alex-alexeyev-reveals-full-extent-of-damage-to-teeth-after-taking-high-stick-during-playoffs-they-tried-pulling-one-tooth-out-with-pliers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/138436\/","title":{"rendered":"Alex Alexeyev reveals full extent of damage to teeth after taking high stick during playoffs: \u2018They tried pulling one tooth out with pliers\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alex Alexeyev<\/strong> finished the 2024-25 season with an accidental souvenir from the Capitals\u2019 playoff run. A high stick to the face from Montreal Canadiens forward Jake Evans knocked out several of Alexeyev\u2019s teeth in Game 1 of the first round, forcing him to wear a bubble for the remainder of the postseason.<\/p>\n

In a recent interview with RG\u2019s Daria Tuboltseva<\/a>, Alexeyev revealed the full extent of the dental damage and how his first trip to the dentist went.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was pumped, playing well, and in the third period \u2014 boom, my teeth get knocked out,\u201d Alexeyev said<\/a>. \u201cNo penalty, because the refs said it was \u2018part of the follow-through.\u2019 And that\u2019s it \u2013 minus six teeth. Three uppers completely gone, roots and all. The other three lowers got chipped; one broke inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alexeyev received two of his teeth back after a member of the Capitals Ice Crew found them on the ice during the overtime intermission<\/a> and delivered them to the team\u2019s medical staff. The 25-year-old defender missed the final 2:38 of regulation and returned to the bench for overtime, although he did not take a shift in the extra frame.<\/p>\n

Alex Ovechkin ultimately scored just 1:26 into OT to deliver the Capitals a 1-0 series lead, but Alexeyev couldn\u2019t enjoy the victory. Instead, he spent the next several hours in a dentist\u2019s chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went to the locker room, got two or three shots, and went back out,\u201d Alexeyev told Tuboltseva. \u201cThankfully, we scored right away \u2014 Ovi got it. After the game, I went straight to the dentist and sat there until 3 am. Surgery, stitches \u2014 they even tried pulling one upper tooth out of the gum with pliers \u2014 no luck.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Two days later, Alexeyev was able to return for Game 2, a major boon for a Capitals defense already missing Martin Fehervary for the remainder of the year. He would go on to play in all 10 of the team\u2019s playoff games, averaging 10:24 of ice time.<\/p>\n

Alexeyev eventually got temporary replacements for his teeth, though he says he would prefer to continue his career without them.<\/p>\n

\u201cLater, they made me two plates that clip onto the neighboring teeth,\u201d Alexeyev said. \u201cFor the lowers, they just filed them and put on crowns. The plates are temporary \u2014 no point in permanent ones. If they get knocked out again, it could fracture the skull because the pins go into the jawbone. If it were up to me, I\u2019d wear them all the time, but you\u2019ve got to smile for the cameras. At least on the ice, I can take them out.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the Capitals declined to tender him a qualifying offer earlier this summer, Alexeyev signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He expects to get much more ice time with the rebuilding Penguins<\/a> under first-year head coach Dan Muse.<\/p>\n

Alexeyev will have to wait quite a while for his first opportunity to return to DC with the Penguins, as Pittsburgh does not visit Washington until April 12 in the final week of the regular season.<\/p>\n

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