Alex Ovechkin gets his second of the game, extending the Capitals lead to 4.

Alexander Semin moves in on a 2 on 1 and sets up Alex Ovechkin with a perfect one-timer pass to put the Caps up 3-2.

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has been suspended for three games without pay for a charging incident in which he launched himself to hit Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek during NHL Game #714 in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Jan. 22, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Ovechkin will forfeit $154,677.75. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Alex Ovechkin will not be in Ottawa for the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game.

Washington Capitals General Manager George McPhee said Tuesday that Ovechkin has decided to remove himself from the weekend’s events because of a three-game suspension handed to him by the NHL on Monday. McPhee said Ovechkin doesn’t want to be a distraction. McPhee also said the team supports the decision.

The NHL suspended Ovechkin for a charging incident involving Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek in their game Sunday. The suspension did not preclude him from participating in the All-Star Game or any of its ancillary events.

“Because he’s a suspended player, he doesn’t feel he deserves to be there, so he’s not going to go,” said McPhee. “He doesn’t want to be a distraction to the event.”

Ovechkin told reporters his heart is not in it to be in Ottawa and he doesn’t deserve to be there because of the suspension.

Both Ovechkin and McPhee said they were disappointed with the ruling. McPhee said he thought it would be a one-game ban or a fine. Ovechkin said he was not targeting Michalek’s head on the play, and that had the defenseman stood up and tried to hit him back it would have been a shoulder-to-shoulder hit.

“I was disappointed, actually,” said Ovechkin. “The big thing is all my career it is going to be like that. My game is play physical. My game is play hard. I don’t think it was bad hit, a dirty hit. Yeah, I jumped but he don’t get hurt and I don’t get two minutes. I don’t think it was a three-game suspension.”

The incident occurred at 4:05 of the second period. No penalty was assessed on the play.

Alex Ovechkin lets out a roar at the Bell Centre after this slapshot from the point.

Alex Ovechkin loses his balance and falls. Tuomo Ruutu is the unfortunate first player that Ovi sees.

Alexander Ovechkin snaps home a powerplay goal to give the Capitals an early lead.

Alex Ovechkin fires a laser shot into the net for his 12th goal of the season.