SOCHI -- Russia forward Ilya Kovalchuk returned for the third period of his team's Group A game against Slovakia on Sunday after missing the final minutes of the second with an apparent leg injury.
Kovalchuk was fighting for a puck with Slovakia forward Richard Panik in the Russian zone when the two fell awkwardly to the ice. Kovalchuk appeared to be in pain as he writhed on the ice for a few moments, but he was able to get up and limp toward the Russian bench under his own power.
Kovalchuk remained on the bench for a few minutes testing the leg and standing on it before leaving for the dressing room.
But when the third period started Kovalchuk was on the ice for the completion of a Russia power play.
The former New Jersey Devils forward scored one goal in the first two games of the tournament at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
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