If you haven't seen it, this is the final in Quebec where Semin and Kovalchuk scored two goals each with Kovy's OT winner on a pass from Fedorov. Could be as well a preview of the finals in Vancouver.
I didn't realize Chimera was playing for Canada.
2:2, Ovi puts it in overdrive, he shoot, he scored the game winner! That's what you expect from the Great Eight Captain Ovechkin! Caps win 3:2 over the Bolts. It's Ovi's 35th goal of the season.
Ovi, Theo, Laich and Sloan on the win over Tampa
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin reacts after scoring the go-ahead goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, in Washington. The Capitals won 3-2.
OVECHKIN, ALEX:
1 goal, 1 assist, +1, total ice time 20:35, average shift 00:58 (perfect!), 02:41 PP, 17:54 even, 6 shots on goal, 11 attempts blocked, 2 missed, 1 hit, 1 giveaway
Wayne is in Belarus along with Mark Messier for the KHL All Star.
January 30, 2010. Minsk, Belarus. At the first dropping of the puck for All Stars: Alexei Yashin, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Vyacheslav Fetisov, Alexander Medvedev and Jaromir Jagr (left to right). Photo AFP
Here's KP.ru (Komsomolskaya Pravda) interview with Wayne Grezky:
The famous Canadian hockey player arrived to Minsk for the All Stars KHL game, Gretzky was invited as an honored guest. In Belarus the legendary Canadian is considered as their man, because his grandfather Terenty lived in the village of Brest region, and went off to Canada to work in 20-ties, leaving his wife and children here. There, over the ocean, he married for a second time and in 1961 he became the grandfather of Wayne.
And in the Belarusian city Svisloch lives Galina Soldatenkova, she is also the granddaughter of Terenty Gretzky. But she is the daughter of Terenty's son from his first marriage. They never met, but the photographs show the overall breed.
Galina Soldatenkova. She and Wayne have the same grandfather. Photo: Olesya GANEVICH
On the eve of Gretzky's arrival to Minsk we asked Galina if Wayne had called her.
"No, he didn't," said Galina, "maybe he doesn't even know about us. But if he'll come, I'll give him our home sausage and will bake him a cake."
The legendary Canadian hockey player Wayne Gretzky with KP's newspaper in Minsk. Photo: Olesya GANEVICH
When Wayne arrived to Minsk, we met with him in the lobby of the hotel "Europe" and the first thing we asked was, "Wayne, do you know about your distant relatives who live in Belarus? Here's your sister, with whom you are bound by a common grandfather," we showed the photo of Galina.
"Really? You're not joking, are you?" It was clear that Wayne knows about his distant Belarusian roots, but without much detail. "Is she is still alive?" asked Wayne.
"Yes, and she is about the same age as you," we opened a newspaper and showed an old photo of Galina with her father Zinovy, who is Gretzky's uncle.
"I know that my father's brother was living here," Wayne perked up, looking at the photos. He turned the page and looked at Saratov's blonde, who was in the contest for Miss KP. "And is she my cousin too?"
"No!"
"What a pity!" said Wayne.
Galina still hopes that Gretzky will call her.
And what will you ask him?
Galina: "I would like to learn how my grandfather lived in Canada. Maybe he'll show his pictures."
IIHF president René Fasel gave an interview to Mikhail Zislis of Sport-Express.ru (Jan. 29, 2010):
The main concern for entire hockey Russia: what's the case with the Olympic roster? Different parties have different interpretations on how to make substitutions to it.
I can immediately put you at ease. We have already discussed this issue, and not only with Tretiak. Yesterday I received a call from Russia's national team coach Slava Bykov, and we have put all dots on the i's.
In fact, compared to the last Olympics, nothing fundamentally has changed. We have an agreement with the NHL and the players union of that league. Under this agreement the national team's roster is announced a month and a half or two months before the tournament. It was a requirement of the union: their players must know in advance if they go to the Olympics or not. The NHL will interrupt the regular championship for two weeks, the best players go to the tournament, and the rest will go on vacation. You have to agree that the interests of the rest must not be forgotten. That's why the league insisted that there shouldn't be any unexpected substitutions in the "list of 23".
In other words, any national team can replace a hockey player who is not representing the NHL club. But for NHL players it is another matter. If the same Bykov wants to replace the NHL player, he can only do so for two reasons: because of the injury to a player or because of any special circumstances that prevents the player to be in Vancouver.
How can you define the special circumstances?
There's no official defintion, but in order to apply it to any player, all parties, the NHL, the NHLPA, the IIHF and the national team must adhere to a common position in respect to the hockey player. It may interfere with his play at the Olympics, for example, for personal reasons. But if a player has a headache or all of a sudden his coach dislikes him, that's no reason for replacement.
Did anything changed regarding of NHL participation at the Games in Sochi?
The ball is on the NHL's side. For hockey as a game, for television, for reporters and millions of fans it is very important that only the best players will participate in such a tournament. And if in the end the NHL says that they will not release their players to the tournament, do we have to cancel the Olympics? Of course, this will be a catastrophe in some sense. But many NHL stars want to come to Sochi. Ovechkin openly said about it. The players position can be important when discussing the new collective agreement in 2011. I hope that the level of the tournament in Vancouver will be such that all parties would have to continue to compete on the ice of Sochi.
It seems like Ovechkin is your favorite player?
I am following him ever since he was 16 - 17 years old. I remember how the former President of IIHF Alexander Steblin talked about him. Ovechkin embodies all that is the best in hockey. There are other stars, but he is my favorite. His game is the best advertisement for Russia's hockey in North America.
Fact:
"Since the Capitals named Alexander Ovechkin captain on Jan. 5, they have gone 12-1-0 and have scored four or more goals in every game but one. Their nine-game winning streak is the club’s longest in 21 seasons and one short of the franchise record."
All the comments are translated from Russian...
A locker room after Toronto's game
Morning skate: Look how many people came to see the workout
Ovechkin at the morning skate
Ovi in a locker room
This is how they root in Washington, the famous "Unleash the fury"
Semin about incoming Olympics
Semin's extra, like in at the end of the movies with Jackie Chan
A cosmonaut in Verizon Center. I tried to imagine this dude in Sokolniki or Luzhniki [Moscow hockey arenas] and couldn't.
Sunday, Jan, 24, 2010: I am already in Atlanta, but have so many unpublished photos.
A routine morning skate, look how the kids react seeing Ovechkin
Nate Ewell: Ovi in car blogs now. For the record, his plate on the black car is better.
Ovi, S. Morrisonn [hard hat] and Neuvirth talk after the game to media
OVECHKIN, ALEX:
1 goal, 2 assists, +2, total ice time 20:56, average shift 01:06, 03:59 PP, 16:48 even, 4 shots on goal, 2 attempts blocked, 4 missed, 2 hits, 1 giveaway, 2 takeaways
UNIONDALE, NY - JANUARY 26: Alex Ovechkin warms up before playing the New York Islanders on January 26, 2010 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
I think Ovechkin's 10 shots on goal are the highest for him this season. yet he didn't even get a point in this game. But the Caps win again, 7th in a row and that's all that matters!
Update from Tarik: "We got seven goals and [Alex Ovechkin] and [Mike Green] didn't get a point," Coach Bruce Boudreau said. "It says you've good balance in your team." Weird to see the Caps get seven goals and Ovechkin finish with 10 shots but no points. I though No. 8 was flying tonight, beginning with that shot he took while sliding on his knees a minute into the game. He also had a nice break-in later, but was stopped.
Ovechkin's stats:
Total ice time 20:51, average shift 01:13, 10(!) shots on goal, 4 attempts blocked (hope Jack Hillen will get well soon)
UNIONDALE, NY - JANUARY 26: Alex Ovechkin skates against Matt Moulson, #26, the New York Islanders on January 26, 2010 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) Capitals win 7:2
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Another awesome interview with Semin by Pavel Lysenkov of Sovetsky Sport. Unfortunately I don't have time to translate the whole article. Here are some excerpts:
I talked with Bobby Clarke, the Philadelphia Flyers legend, and he said, " Ovechkin is bull on ice! He crushes everyone under himself, goes through the players. Do you agree with Clark?
They are trying to kill him, but nothing matters for Ovechkin anyway. No one can handle him and it's hard to beat him one on one. He is huge and rolls like a train. But look by yourself (Semin nods toward the door where as, if it was ordered, appears Ovechkin along with his father, Mikhail Viktorovich.)
And what kind of animal could you be compared?
Wow, what a question! (Semin is surprised) I won't answer myself.
Uncle Misha, who would you compare me with?
Dad Ovechkin thinks and issues, "Pantera! There is something feline is Sashka's game. This is how he scored a goal against Philadelphia, crept in and scored."
Alexander, in general you give the impression of imperturbable man.
But why to pay an attention when they are trying to provoke you? It is clear why they are doing it, to make a player mad and earn a power play. For me all this is a baby talk.
When was Alexander Semin mad the last time? Not necessarily in the game, maybe in a real life?
Even when I had a fight with Rangers' Marc Staal, I was not overwhelmed by emotions... No, I am not like that. I never get mad.
What kind of news from the KHL are the most catchy for you? Except about Lada [former Semin's team]. Maybe melee in Chekhov?
This is a joke. Who needs it? Well, I watched the video, nothing good. Should've been just like in the NHL, one tough guy against another. Why the whole teams were fighting?
Do you remember anything like that?
Yes, I saw something like that once. It was in Krasnoyarsk. There was a game between the boys born in 1980. I was four years younger and watched the game from the stands. And then it was a melee! A bench clearing brawl, really. I only remember my friend and grabbed someone's sticks off the ice and ran. The sticks were in a short supply back then.
I can not imagine this battle in the NHL. If someone pops up from the bench, when others fight, he will receive automatic disqualification for 10 games. Then it will be reviewed and it could be even more.
You've recently extended the contract with Washington for another year. After 2010/11 you'll be unrestricted free agent. Is there an option that you could return to the KHL? Maybe one percent chance?
I won't tell you. Why disturb people? I will play for Capitals another year and a half. I am happy with everything in Washington. And as more things will come, no one knows what will happen...
WachCaps: Beatles, Caps style
Nate Ewell: Ovi's upset - Brooks won't play "Back in the USSR"
OK, we can fix it, Nate!
Ovechkin: "Been away so long I hardly knew the place, gee, it's good to be back home"
This is where Russian hockey is heading recently, a lot of fights and bench clearing melees. In Communist Russia it was considered bad (I won't blame them too much) and the fights were prohibited. At he same time Russians exercised a liberty of intimidating other Europeans, like Czechs, Swedes, and Finns. It was going on and on until 1972 series vs. Canada. In those series the Russians were Czechs, Swedes and Finns, and Canadians were the Russians.
Now 9 year olds get into the fights. It is sad to watch. On the other hand Canadians should be beware, a new breed of hockey dogs is growing, a mix between Canadian huskies and finesse Russian hounds.
Russians are coming! :-)
Alex Semin had a goal and three assists, Eric Fehr and Alex Ovechkin each had a goal and an assist. This was sixth in a row Caps's victory.
Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin skates down the ice against the Phoenix Coyotes during the third period at the Verizon Center in Washington on January 23, 2010. Capitals won 4:2. Photo UPI/Alexis C. Glenn via Newscom.
Pre-game skate, excitement in the air
Ovi couldn't score against Bryzgalov, but was otherwise very visible and his team has won. That's all that counts. Besides an empty netter and an assist won't hurt in a scoring race.
Ovechkin is now second in points behind Henrik Sedin, second in goals behind Patrick Marleau, first in plus-minus with +5 ahead of Burrows.
Ovechkin's stats:
1 goal (empty net), 1 assist, +1, total ice time 22:56, average shift 01:16, 10:28 on power play, 12:28 even, 6 shots on goal, 5 attempts blocked, 1 missed, 4 hits, 1 shot blocked.
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~Caps GM George McPhee
~Gordie Howe
“He’s amazing. There aren’t enough words in English or Russian to describe him.”
~Chris Drury
"He's like the shark in Jaws, circling in the water waiting for blood. They should play that music from the movie – da-duh, da-duh, da-duh - when he's out on a shift. He doesn't just go after loose pucks, he hunts them down."
~John Davidson, President of Hockey Operations for the St. Louis Blues.
Keep the faith, TJ, and keep up the good work.
Thank you, Alex Ovetjkin, for killing this ridiculous storyline with this post.
~Mike Prada, Sr. Editor, SB Nation
Blog o Alexovi, psaný anglicky, je vážně kvalitní a aktuální
Just wanted to thank you for posting my book on your blog, which I consulted a fair bit while researching and writing the book. In particular, the comprehensive list of links on alexovetjkin.blogspot.com is the best library on Ovechkin material available anywhere.
Regards,
Geoffrey Lansdell
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