Simply the best!

Washington Post, Mar. 19, 2008 "Ovechkin Hits Another High":

Alex Ovechkin added another milestone to his illustrious career Tuesday night, becoming the first player in Washington Capitals history to record two 100-point seasons. "I feel good, but the most important thing is winning the games, all about two points," said Ovechkin, who extended his league lead in goals and points to 58 and 102, respectively.

From Washington Times, Mar. 19, 2008 "Quick start, Ovechkin carry Caps to victory":

Ovechkin collected the puck and waited for a second before putting it off the boards near center ice. It angled down the ice and trickled into the net just before Nashville defenseman Marek Zidlicky crashed into the cage in pursuit.

When asked whether he was trying to score, Ovechkin replied, "No, I was trying to keep puck in the neutral zone, so it was luckiest score ever."

There was a scary moment for Ovechkin earlier in the game. He took a shot from Nashville's Greg de Vries off his foot with 2:36 left in the first period and fell to the ice. He finished the shift — and nearly scored a goal — but moved slowly to the bench afterward.

He said after the game he was fine, but he was walking with a limp. Ovechkin did block a shot from Arnott with 27 seconds to go and went down trying to get in the way of another seconds later before eventually potting the empty-netter.

"I don't know why [he is blocking shots]," Boudreau said. "I'm telling him to get out of there. He's blocking shots because he wants to win as much as anybody and if not more. If you see the best player in the world blocking shots, it's got to tell the rest of the team that they can do it, too. That's why he's out there at the end the of the game -- because he pays the price."

More and more I hear that people call Ovechkin the best player in the world. Well, we have heard that before, but there was a word 'arguably' or somehow the mentioning of Crosby. Even Boudreau would ask a counter question, like 'What do you think?'

Now I hear it straight and without a hesitation 'Ovechkin is the best player in the world' from commentators, sport writers and, yes, from Boudreau too. :-)

More praises to Ovechkin from Michael Farber, SI, Mar. 18.

Kevin Allen, USA Today, Mar. talks about a possibility of Ovechkin getting the MVP without making playoffs. But with a win in Nashville there's still a hope that Caps will make it.

From ESPN, Mar. 19, 2008 "Ovechkin hits 100 points as Caps stay two points out of final spot in East":

Washington trails the eighth-place Philadelphia Flyers by two points in the Eastern Conference standings. The Capitals pulled within three points of the Southeast Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes, who were idle Tuesday.

"There is no rest, because it is so close," Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. "If everything goes as it could possibly go, you could have five or six teams within two or three points of each other by Friday, so we want to be the team that gains the spot."

"The most important thing for me is not beating some records," Ovechkin said. "Right now it is all about winning games and all about getting two points."

58 Goals In A Season since 1993-94

'07-08 Alexander Ovechkin  WSH 
'99-00 Pavel Bure          FLA 
'98-99 Pavel Bure          FLA 
'95-96 Mario Lemieux       PIT 
'95-96 Jaromir Jagr        PIT 
'93-94 Pavel Bure          VAN