Alexander Ovechkin for Maurice Richard, Art Ross and Hart Memorial Trophies.

This season's MVP is Ovechkin … by a light year.

Alexander Ovechkin is trying to lay claim to an unprecedented and highly deserved triple crown — the Maurice Richard Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy and the Hart Memorial Trophy.

Richard's hardware, named for the NHL's first 50 goal scorer, is one of the newest prizes in the NHL's rich trophy case. It is earned by the league's top goal scorer. Ovechkin has already won this prize with his second 50 goal season in his three years of professional hockey.

The Art Ross Trophy is won by the player with the most scoring points. As an average of about 1.7 assists is awarded for each goal scored, it is more common for this trophy to be claimed by a top playmaker. Only about 40% of Art Ross Trophies have been claimed by the league's top goal scorer.

The Hart Trophy is awarded to the player judged to be "the most valuable to his team". Although a literal read of this clearly means that a goaltender ought to win this prize each year, the award has typically (75 percent of the time) been presented to the NHL's most impactful forward, as judged by the voters.

It is not so uncommon for the Art Ross and Hart trophies to be captured by the same player. In fact, as 39 of 83 Hart Trophies have been won by the NHL's leading collector of scoring points, this is the surest route to the MVP award. Demonstrating that assists are overrated, only 20 Hart Trophies have been won by the NHL's leading goal scorer.

The short history of the Richard Trophy (first awarded in 1999) is what makes the Triple Crown unprecedented. In 17 seasons since 1923-24, when it was first presented, the Hart Trophy has gone to a player that was both the top goal and point scorer — Wayne Gretzky (five times), Gordie Howe (four times), Mario Lemieux (twice), Nels Stewart, Howie Morenz, Jean Beliveau, Bobby Hull, Phil Esposito and Guy Lafleur are the only players to perform this magic. However, in 16 other seasons the Double Crown winner has been denied (in seven seasons by another forward).

Ovechkin has already won the Richard trophy and seems likely to win the Art Ross as well. Let me make the case for Ovechkin's name on the Hart.

First of all, he has not simply won the Richard trophy. He has smoked the competition with a season for the ages.

Maurice (The Rocket) Richard set the bar with 50 goals in 50 games in the 1944-45 season. The number of 50-goal seasons has recently been raised to 182 by Ilya Kovalchuk and may grow by another should Jarome Iginla notch one more goal in Calgary's final three games. To properly compare these results across over 60 years of the changing face of hockey it is necessary to adjust for (at least) two things.

The first consideration to address is the increasing length of the season, which has ranged from 50 games in Richard's seminal season to as many as 84 games.

A second factor to consider is the ebb and flow of scoring in the NHL. Since the end of the Second World War the average number of goals scored per game has been as high as 8.02 (in 1981-82) and as low as 4.79 (in 1952-53).

And there is Ovechkin's 2007-08 season which is currently ranked just ahead (by a fraction of a goal) of Gretzky's record-setting season of 92 goals (set in the highest scoring season since the Second World War). His performance this season is on pace for the ninth best goal scoring season of all time placing the Russian phenom in elite company.

This is a 'wow' performance however it is easily underrated because of the low-scoring nature of today's game.

But is he "valuable to his team"?

The story here is actually more compelling. The Washington Capitals have scored 227 goals to date. Ovechkin has accounted for about 27% of this total (and assisted on another 21% of Washington goals). Imagine this team without that contribution.

Only two players rank above Ovechkin on this list of players that carried teams on their backs. This is what a "most valuable player to his team" really looks like.

Hart Trophy voters typically run their votes through a series of distorting lenses.

The first is that, because offence is so much easier to measure than defence or goaltending (and comparing these three contributions to success is so difficult), only forwards get serious enough consideration to win. Goaltending is much more impactful but typically gets very short shrift.

Among forwards, scoring points are overrated. Hart Trophy voters fail to realize that there are about 1.7 assists per goal and frequently vote for the Art Ross Trophy winner. Ovechkin looks poised for the Double Crown of the Richard and Art Ross Trophies. But this feat has remarkably translated to Hart trophies only 50% of the time.

Excellence on an inferior team is dismissed. Many voters unreasonably extrapolate team success on to individuals. Many voters filter out players because their teammates are weak. Washington would be long gone without Ovechkin but this will hurt him in the voting.

Finally 'brand' matters disproportionately to voters. Players get votes for prior season performances. This has been especially true in Vezina Trophy voting. Other leading scorers have better brand — Iginla, Joe Thornton and Vincent Lecavalier.

However, if a goaltender does not win the award, this season's MVP is Ovechkin … by a light year.

read more...

Ovechkin gets another writer's vote for the Hart Trophy

By MIKE ZEISBERGER, TORONTO SUN, Mar. 31, 2008 "A Capital choice"

But playoffs or no playoffs, Ovechkin has been the most electrifying, entertaining dynamic player in the league during the regular season, bar none. Each time his steel blades dig deep into the ice, he causes both fans and opponents to anticipate -- and fear -- something special is about to happen.

Awarding the Hart to a superstar from a non-playoff team goes against the historical precedence of previous winners. But having cracked the 60-goal barrier, Ovechkin, the front-runner to squeeze out Malkin for the scoring title, has pretty much done everything he can to thrust the Caps into the post-season.

More importantly, he easily has been the best player in the NHL in 2008-09. That, in this voter's opinion, is ample reason for The Big O to get the nod here.

Playing like superstar Ovechkin (Vancouver Canucks' Alex Burrows about Trevor Linden's performance):

"Alex Burrows was certainly impressed with Linden’s energetic spark tonight. “I thought Ovechkin was out there tonight for us,” said Burrows.

The Joker vs. The Nerd: The Real Reason Ovechkin is ‘Better’ Than Crosby

bleacher report, Mar. 27, 2008 "The Joker vs. The Nerd: The Real Reason Ovechkin is ‘Better’ Than Crosby "

The hockey community has been split ever since those commercials showed Alexander Ovechkin ordering tons of room service in the name of Sidney Crosby—who of these two prodigies is really the best?

The typical line, and the one that has to end most drunken discussions before a fight breaks out, is that Ovechkin is the flashy goalscorer while Crosby is the reliable (and ultimately more valuable) playmaker.

But, to be honest, I think there’s a little more to it than this.

Take this year’s All-Star skills competition and Sid’s absence.

Was anyone really that disappointed? Sure, it was a shame, but would Sid really have flung the puck into the air and attempted a baseball swing at it?

It’s a testament to Sid’s work ethic and apparently innate talent that he made Penguins' captain whilst still in his teens, and is regarded by anyone with half a brain as one of the best players in the league, while becoming the poster boy for everything NHL.

To suggest that his playing is substandard in any way would be bordering on ludicrous.

However, it was Ovechkin who walked into the league with a bang, scoring two goals in his first ever game.

It’s Ovechkin, not Crosby, who has Gretzky staring and shaking his head at replays of his goals.

It’s Ovechkin who leaves you laughing incredulously at his sheer love of playing, even when his goal has just sunk your favorite team.

It’s Ovechkin who’s even got you desperate for the Caps to make the playoffs.

Perhaps it’s the underdog syndrome that’s got me—something I’ve inherited from my dad—and Sid’s comparatively easy upbringing that doesn’t tug the heartstrings as much as Ovie’s struggle to be allowed to play at the age 7.

Certainly, from over here in Britain, with limited access to live games, it’s the Russian who commands the most adulation, and he's who I’m more likely to sit watching videos of on the internet when I could be doing something productive.

From an outsider’s perspective, Crosby certainly seems to be the straight-laced to Ovechkin’s joker; the Wise to Ovie’s Morcambe; the nerd to No. 8’s classroom clown.

Maybe it's true that Sid has the staying power and the greater overall value, and maybe it’s true that Ovechkin eventually will crash and burn. But isn’t it better to live one hour as a tiger than a whole lifetime as a worm?

Ok, so no one in their right mind would put Crosby in the worm category, and there’s no denying that he’s destined to be thought of as one of the all-time greats, but the point remains the same—slow and steady might win the race, but where’s the fun in that?

Is there anything left? They said it all, but I want to add 2 things that Crosby will never be able to accomplish, he'll never be able to outscore Ovechkin in goals, he'll never be able to be as physical as Ovechkin.

from Japer's Rink "Thirteen Questions With Alex Ovechkin":

Q. When will Sidney Crosby score 50 goals in a season?

A. May even be tomorrow! The guy is extremely talented. He could pick up a video game console, pick Pittsburgh as his team, and score 50 goals in one gaming session.

Ok, Sidney, don't get angry, it was just a joke (wink, wink)

He’s still got it I guess, eh?

By Corey Masisak, Washington Times, Mar. 28, 2008 "Capitals capture a victory in OT":

Alexander Semin helped the Caps reach overtime with his 24th goal of the season with 4:48 remaining in the third. Sergei Fedorov won a faceoff in the Tampa Bay zone back to Semin.

Fedorov also set up the Caps' first goal. He feathered a pass between two defenders to Laich while short-handed, and Laich deked to his backhand before coming back to his forehand to lift a shot past Ramo with 2:02 left in the first period.

It was Laich's 20th goal of the season.

Fedorov played 18:27, had 2 assists and was +1. He won 12 faceoffs and lost 11, total 52%. The numbers are ok, but they don't show that Fedorov was instrumental in Caps victory. It was so nice to see because it was clearly not Ovechkin's night. He had two-three scoring chances where he would normally score, but he missed the net. Good thing is, he's going to explode in the next games, and Caps need it.

Caps center Brooks Laich:

“He’s still got it I guess, eh? Just a nice play by Feds. He just holds onto the puck and lays a saucer pass, gives me all the time in the world. I was just able to get [Tampa Bay goaltender Karri Ramo] sliding one way and shot it in the other way.

It was a great play by Fedsy. I thought he had a really good game. He does a lot of the other things, the faceoffs, and he won the face-off that Sasha scored on. Real strong game for him.”

Tampa Bay feed showed the interview with Bruce Boudreau. He had really nice words about Fedorov, about his influence on others. He also said that Fedorov was actually coaching young players, he said having Fedorov was like having another [assistant] coach on ice.

I think Fedorov has another two good years left in him. He never had any major injuries, most important, no knee surgeries or shoulder problems in his career. If Fedorov feels comfortable in Washington, who knows, he might agree on less money if, hopefully, the management wants him back. That would be so awesome to have him along with Ovechkin in this team.

Update from Washington Post staff writer Tarik El-Bashir was online Friday, March 28:

Detroit: When you guys acquired Fedorov, he had to have been viewed as a rental, but his play has been terrific. What do you suppose the odds are that he could re-sign, or does a healed Nylander and returning Backstrom put the squeeze on him?

Tarik El-Bashir: Fedorov has done everything that has been asked of him -- and more. But I still think he's viewed as a rental. When Michael Nylander comes back next season, Fedorov would be reduced to a third line center.

While I think he would be great in that role, I think he'll be able to get more money and playing time elsewhere.

Sacramento: Fedorov is amazing. That pass to Brooks, the recovery and the pass, was fantastic. I think many Caps fans want him back next year. Are the players attached to him as well?

Tarik El-Bashir: That pass was great. But I thought his faceoff win that set up Semin's goal was even greater.

Since the day he's arrived, he's been so accomodating to his new teammates and the media. He's a calming voice on the bench and in the room. He's a workout freak, too, which is something that will likely rub off on the younger players.

In short, Fedorov has been a huge addition.

Update: Washington Post, March 29, 2008 "Caps' Playoff Drive Is a Gas for Fedorov":

SUNRISE, Fla., March 28 -- On the day Sergei Fedorov was acquired last month, Washington Capitals General Manager George McPhee said he hoped the three-time Stanley Cup champion had "one good fight left in him."
Fourteen games later, there's no doubt about it. Fedorov has plenty of fight left. Whether it's setting up a goal, winning a key faceoff or dispensing knowledge gained through nearly 17 stellar seasons in the NHL, the 38-year-old center has been one of the Capitals' most important players in recent weeks as the race for the playoffs has intensified.

In Thursday's come-from-behind 4-3 overtime victory in Tampa, Fedorov's biggest contributions came in the clutch. He set up a shorthanded goal with a precise pass in the first period, then won a faceoff that led to the tying goal late in regulation.

"You know who was the happiest guy after we won?" Coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Fedorov."

The reason for that can be summed up in a single word: playoffs. Fedorov hasn't been there since the 2002-03 season with the Detroit Red Wings, and beating the Lightning kept alive Washington's hope of reaching the postseason for the first time in five years.

"I'm possessed about it," Fedorov said. "I'll do anything that will take us there. That's the most important thing I keep on my mind. Hopefully, we can reach the real event."

With four games remaining, Washington's playoff push picks up here Saturday night against the Florida Panthers, who have been all but eliminated from contention.

For Fedorov, helping the Capitals reach the playoffs would be the perfect way to return a favor to the team that's helped him rediscover his zeal for the game, he said.

When Fedorov was traded to Washington on Feb. 26 for a prospect, he didn't know what to make of the sudden upheaval. One moment he was a Blue Jacket, the next he had been shipped off an unfamiliar city and a team he knew little about after spending his entire career in the Western Conference.

But now Fedorov is grateful for the change. He's having more fun than he's had in years, he said, reinvigorated by Boudreau's up-tempo system and a roster filled with young and talented players that remind Fedorov of himself 15 years ago.

"Just getting the chance to play hockey the way it's supposed to be played, which is using hockey sense, not robotic," Fedorov said, referring to the Blue Jackets' defense-first strategy. In Columbus "you had do things that didn't require much skill. It's much, much different here. That's why it's exciting and refreshing."

Fedorov is no longer the player who amassed 56 goals and 64 assists en route to earning MVP honors in 1993-94. But, Boudreau said, the six-time all-star's contributions cannot be measured in points alone. He's been the team's best faceoff man, rising to ninth in the league (55.6 percent). He's defensively responsible and, most importantly, he's mentored many of the young players, particularly fellow Russians Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin.

"What a pro," Boudreau of Fedorov. "He could have no points. I'm so lucky to get to know him. He's constantly teaching his other teammates. He just talks, reminding guys what they need to do."

Fedorov has embraced the role of elder statesman and frequently pulls aside his young teammates to talk strategy. They have almost no choice but to listen. After all, the advice is coming from Sergei Fedorov, No. 10 on the NHL's active scoring list with 1,141 points.

"If they listen and do it, that's perfect," he said. "But when you say too much, or too many things at once, that's not good. I came here to add something, not to interrupt."

Said Ovechkin: "It's not one thing. It's lots of things. I can just watch him. How he thinks about the game. How he [prepares]. How he controls the game. He's unbelievable in the locker room. His experience helps us. We're lucky we get him. He's a good teacher."

Nicklas Backstrom agreed, adding: "We talk about the power play a lot. He tells me where I should go and little things like that."

How much longer Fedorov remains a Capital is uncertain. He's an unrestricted free agent at season's end, meaning he'll be available to the highest bidder. Last month, he acknowledged that he would consider all of his options, including retirement.

"I told my friends and family, 'Listen guys, let me finish whatever we can here,' " he said Friday. "We'll all get together in the summer over a barbecue and talk about it. Everyone will get a chance to voice their opinion -- my mom, my dad, my brother, my agent and some teammates I just met on this team. It always good to step back before you step forward."

Not great for NHL if Ovechkin home for playoffs

Update: From Canes Country, Mar. 28, 2008: The rest of the NHL seems to be rooting for the Capitals to be Southeast Division champs so that Ovechkin will make the playoffs. Injuries or not, the Canes can’t afford any let up.

From slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com, Mar. 27, 2008 "Forgive me for rooting..."

But wouldn’t a Montreal-Washington first-round playoff matchup be a blast to watch?

For one, the games just might all be 6-5. If you love defensive hockey, you could flip to whatever series the Devils are playing and get (more than) your fill, but this could be a highlight reel series.

It only seems fair that the most spectacular player in the game be in the playoffs, so a wider audience could watch Alex Ovechkin.

And the goalie matchup of Carey Price, Montreal’s youngster, against Cristobal Huet, the player Montreal cast off at the trading deadline to anoint Price, would be terrific.

This will require Washington to grab the last playoff spot and Montreal to win the conference, both of which are possible.

Anyone with me on this?

I am... :-)

By Kevin Dupont NBCSports.com, March. 25, 2008

With less than two weeks remaining in the NHL's 2007-'08 regular season, the Caps were in all-too-familiar territory, shut out of the Stanley Cup playoffs, looking like the best and most entertainting also-rans that hockey had to offer.

All D.C.-related also-ran jokes aside, folks, this was not a good thing.

The Caps have the single most exciting player in today's game in Alexander Ovechkin, who scored his league-high 61st goal against Carolina on Tuesday. We repeat: 61 goals. No one has done that in 12 years, back in the days when Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr were pacing the Penguins and lulling us all into the misguided belief that, like, you know, scoring 50 or 60 or even 70 goals was no big deal. Hey, it happens every year.

Or so we thought.

Here in the extended (did someone say torturous?) dead puck era, it seems almost surreal that someone has scored 61 times. Scoring in the NHL has become a little like the American space program. We grew accustomed, even a little bored, by seeing astronauts land on the moon, stake flags, drive crazy dune buggies, even drive golf balls.

But in a flash, the whole glorious space adventure went from fore! to forget it. Did we really get guys to the moon and back? Round trip, 500,000 miles, with no need to pull over for a bathroom break? The box scores say we did. Just like they say 100-point scorers once grew on trees (usually planted in Canada) in the NHL.

The '08 playoffs without A.O. would not be O.K.

Just as big-time scoring has dried up around the league, so has the sport's big-time entertainment factor. Ovechkin not only knows how to score (and there is an intelligence to getting those four ounces of rubber in that 24-square-foot net), but he knows how to entertain, too. His trademark, stamped on nearly every goal, is that running leap he takes into the glass that rings the boards, which sometimes leaves fans in the lower loges thinking that he is about to leave one of those Wile E. Coyote silhouettes carved in the glass as he makes his way through the stands and toward the pizza stand.

Showboating? Perhaps. But so what. If anyone has a right to crow a little, or a lot, it's Ovechkin, who obviously delights in doing what he is supposed to do. He likes to score. He really likes to score.

So many (read: virtually all others) NHL forwards look as if they're in pain when they put the puck in the net. Maybe they are. Heck, with so many coaches preaching the neutral zone trap and plus-minus figures being logged and scrutinized, the way Social Security keeps track of our annual wages, it's as if scoring has become an afterthought for most forwards in the game.

Not for Ovechkin. He shoots more than anyone. He scores more than anyone. Just by watching him, you can tell he loves it more than anyone.

Mike Foligno wasn't nearly of the same caliber, but the ex-Sabre used to make a trademark hop when he scored. Theo Fleury, who turned out to have his share of inner demons, knew how to celebrate goals, too. Brett Hull didn't put much of a maraschino cherry on his hundreds upon hundreds of goals, but the Golden Brett had a flair for unleashing his shots, even more than Bobby Hull, his Hall-of-Fame father. Hull (father and son) was a happening every time he was on the ice, even if he didn't score.

True, the playoffs have their own excitement, and every year, no matter how dull the regular season might have been, that excitement is the sport's renewal. Even casual or non-hockey fans find the suspense gripping. And with or without Ovechkin, they will be that way again. It happens every year.

Or so we think, or at least want to believe.

However, if the Caps could make the cut, ease into one of the final seeds in the Eastern Conference, Ovechkin could be to April, May and June what the Winter Classic was to one day in January.

Alexander Ovechkin is a beast

From Canes Country, Mar. 26, 2008:

Alexander Ovechkin is a beast. The official scorer only gave him 4 hits for the game, which must be some kind of a joke because it seemed like he had 4 hits per shift. His 11 shots on goal seems a bit high because believe it or not, the Carolina defense didn’t seem to do that bad of a job on him.

Just wanted to add that the nearest guy in hits was Juice (Milan Jurcina). As of shots on goal about 4 guys had 4 shots of goal while Ovechkin had 11. Those damn stats, they probably lie... :-)

The Tampa Tribune

By ERIK ERLENDSSON, Mar. 27, 2008:
TAMPA - Washington's Alexander the Great has divided and conquered like no other player has in more than a decade in the NHL.

Alex Ovechkin goes around defensemen with the puck on his stick like it's dangling on a string. He goes through forwards who get between him and the puck. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Russian winger hits with the brute force of a linebacker on skates. He takes the same type of hit and gets up with a smile on his face.

Ovechkin has it all. Sometimes, it seems like he does it all.

And he puts it all out there on nearly every shift with the enthusiasm and pure joy of a child opening presents, making it hard to tell if he has just scored his first goal or his 201st.

"He's got every tool. I think even some of the best players didn't have them all," said Lightning defenseman Dan Boyle, who will likely see plenty of Ovechkin on the ice tonight as the Capitals make their final visit to Tampa this season. "He can skate. He can shoot. He can be physical. And he can pass."

Ovechkin enters tonight's game with a league-high 61 goals, making him the first player to hit the 60-goal mark in a season since Jaromir Jagr and Mario Lemieux each reached the plateau in 1996. With his goal on Tuesday, the 22-year-old became the Capitals' single-season record holder.

But individual accolades are not foremost on Ovechkin's mind right now. Helping Washington get into the playoffs for the first time since 2002-03 is what matters most as the Capitals enter their final five games two points behind eighth-place Boston and four behind division-leading Carolina.

TampaBay.com, Mar. 26, 2008 "Ovechkin has strong case for MVP even ifCaps miss playoffs":

Only four players from nonplayoff teams have won the Hart Trophy, the MVP award voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The last was Mario Lemieux in 1988.

Ovechkin, 22, is making a good case. He is the first 60-goal scorer since Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr in 1995-96. He needs three goals to pass Luc Robitaille for most in a season by a left wing.

In 34 games since signing a 13-year, $124-million deal, Ovechkin has 29 goals and 26 assists. In 20 games in which he scored since Jan. 1, the Capitals are 16-3-1.

And at 6 feet 2, 217 pounds, he is not subtle.

"Players are scared of him,'' said Tampa Bay's Jeff Halpern, Ovechkin's former teammate. "People don't want to hit him. If you're trying to stop someone from scoring and you're scared to bump into him because you don't want to end up on the highlights getting run over by him, it makes him pretty hard to defend.''

Add that Washington has one other 20-goal scorer (Alexander Semin with 23) and Ovechkin has scored or assisted on 48.6 percent of his team's 220 goals and, well, you get the idea.

Ovechkin leads NHL's stars of the week

Ovechkin has been four times in NHL's 'Three Stars' this season and now he has been selected for a second time in NHL's 'First star of the week'.

Globe and Mail, March 24, 2008

NEW YORK — Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin is the NHL's first star of the week for the second time in three weeks.

He scored his 60th goal of the season last week and led all scorers with seven points in three games.

Ovechkin notched one goal and two assists in a 4-2 victory over Nashville last Tuesday to become the fastest NHL player to reach 300 career points since Peter Forsberg in 1997-'98.

Ovechkin had two goals and two assists in a 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Friday, reaching the 60-goal mark for the first time since Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr in 1995-96.

Globe and Mail, Mar. 24, 2008 "Duhatschek: Ovechkin's impact may extend to team-building"

There are many ways to assess the impact of the Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin – both statistical and anecdotal – but his strong play to keep the Washington Capitals in the playoff race makes you wonder if his breakthrough season will also have an impact on the way teams draft and build their teams.

There was once a perception that Russian players wouldn't make a difference between winning and losing; and that to rely on them too heavily would undermine a team's chances for success. Ovechkin and the rest have done a pretty good job of reversing that perception – and they're doing it with the sort of panache that makes the previous generation may have lacked.

Certainly, it seems that every week, Alex The Great, comes up with another chart-topping performance for the Capitals and last week was no exception. On Monday, he was named the NHL's player of the week for the second time in three weeks. Once again, he led all NHL scorers in points (seven in three games. Three points in a 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators made him the first player in franchise history to record multiple 100-point seasons and the fastest NHL player to reach 300 career points since Peter Forsberg in 1997-98. His four-point performance vs. Atlanta a few days later – two goals, two assists – brought him to the 60-goal mark, the first time that's happened since Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr did it in 1995-96. Ovechkin leads the NHL in goals (60), points (106), power-play goals (21), game-winning goals (10) and shots (410) and he's right up there in hits too – 10th overall at last count.

At 22 years, 186 days old last Friday in the game against the Thrashers, Ovechkin became the fifth-youngest player in NHL history to score 60. The four players younger than Ovechkin at the time of their 60th goal were Wayne Gretzky in 1981-82 (20 years, 359 days) and 1982-83 (22-41), Pavel Bure in 1992-93 (22-11), Mike Bossy in 1978-79 (22-62) and Mario Lemieux in 1987-88 (22-167).

Bure, Bossy and Lemieux all had longevity issues, as their careers unfolded. Even with the physical style he plays, Ovechkin has had no such difficulties, closing in on the end of his third season and having missed just one game – in his Calder Trophy-winning rookie year – in that time. All that's left now is to squeeze those Capitals of his into the playoffs and dare we hope for this? A first-round meeting with the Pittsburgh Penguins?

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 

Gretzky about Ovechkin

Canoe-SLAM!Sports Mar. 16 "Gretzky: Ovechkin could score 90":

PHOENIX -- Wayne Gretzky knows a thing or two about scoring goals.

Yesterday the greatest offensive player in the history of the game weighed in on Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin, whose 57 goals leads the league this season.

"He's just a bull," Gretzky said. "He's got a little bit of everything. He's got the release and the hands that (Mike) Bossy had, the quickness that (Jari) Kurri had and the toughness that (Mark) Messier had. He's the whole package and he loves to score goals."

With 10 games left in the season for the Capitals, Ovechkin should break the 60-goal plateau. That's something that hasn't been accomplished since Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux scored 69 in the 1995-96 season.

"I think he can get 90 one day," Gretzky said. "The thing about scoring goals, it's one thing to score but there are some guys that really enjoy scoring goals more than other guys. He's one of those guys that likes to score. If he could he would keep the puck for every one. But it's great for the game, he brings excitement to the game, he's fun to watch. He's a good player."

Gretzky believes goaltenders are the big reason why it's harder to score these days. Along with the bigger equipment, they're all better players.

"The goalies are all athletes now," he said. "I mean our guy is six-foot-five and can do the splits. And every guy is an upper echelon guy. It's not like our day. I remember going into the morning skate and Johnny Bower was taking the morning skate at 61 and they said he might play that night. I couldn't sleep all day I was so excited."

Now here's what Iginla and Conroy are saying about Ovechkin...
Calgary Herald Mar. 16, 2008 "Hunting the Hart":

"If Washington makes the playoffs," said Iginla, "I think it's a no-brainer. With the season Ovechkin's had? He'll get 60 goals and 110 points or whatever. If they make it, yeah, he'd definitely have my vote. He's had an amazing year."

Even Craig Conroy, as enthusiastic a drum-beater for Iginla as you could ever hope to find, would put Ovechkin on his ballot if he had one.

"He's the best player in the league," said Conroy. "I'd love to say Iggy -- Iggy's right there in the thick of things. And you look at Malkin and the way he carried the team (during Crosby's absence).

"I know some people (are discounting Ovechkin) because the Capitals may not make the playoffs, but you know what? It's the most valuable player to his team. Right now, he is that.

"I like all three. Toss a coin. I don't know how guys vote, but for me, I've got to pick Ovechkin. He's putting the numbers up and a lot of nights, he's winning games for the team. He's making the difference for them, night in and night out."

If the Caps miss the post-season and Ovechkin still wins the Hart, it would be a cruel twist of fate for Iginla. In 2001-02, the Flames winger tied Montreal goaltender Jose Theodore in Hart voting points, but lost the award because he had fewer first-place nominations. Several of the writers who do the voting admitted they dropped Iginla down on their ballots because Calgary failed to get to the playoffs.

"It's out of my control," shrugged Iginla. "When I tied with Theodore and (he received the Hart because) he had more first-place votes and I wasn't on the top five (on some ballots), when I heard that, I was a bit disappointed.

Why Lehtonen was so upset?

Lehtonen let 4 goals vs. Caps, but when Ovechkin scored... Did you see how frustrated Lehtonen looked when Ovechkin scored on him? :-)

According to ajc.com (Mar. 15, 2008) before the game, Washington star forward Alex Ovechkin told Lehtonen he was going to score two goals on the Thrashers' goalie.

It's not bragging if you do it, and Ovechkin entered the game with 13 career goals on Lehtonen, more than he has scored against any other goalie in the league.

"I told him, I'd see what I can do," Lehtonen said.

Ovechkin scored only one, when he one-timed a shot past Lehtonen for Washington's fourth goal of the game.

It's a small victory.

"It's always a huge battle [with Ovechkin]," said Lehtonen, who had 33 saves. "I did pretty well the last couple games against him, now it was his turn to score a nice goal. That's probably one of the best shots in the league; sometimes you get lucky and save it, sometimes it hits the post, and today it went in."

While Lehtonen could joke about the trash talking between him and the Russian star, the losing is getting frustrating for the young goalie.

LOL. Ovechkin hit a crossbar, he was that close to score two.

Update: Thanks for the comment. I thought Ovie hit the iron more than once, but was not sure... It was three times!

Alex Ovechkin, wizard of the Washington Capitals

A nice article from Calgary Herald, March 12, "Alexander The Admired".

Arguably the National Hockey League's best player, Ovechkin welcomes the Calgarians into the Verizon Center today...

It was written before the game. A lot of talk how to stop Ovechkin, but he ended up scoring two goals. Just reminds me what Tortorella said when asked how to contain Ovechkin, "you can skate with him, you can limit him, but you can't stop him."

Washington Capitals star winger Alexander Ovechkin, by the numbers:

1 - NHL rank for goals (54), inter-division goals (40), even-strength goals (36), road goals (28), home goals (26), power-play goals (18), game-winning goals (9).

2 - Career fights, both in 2006-07. Philadelphia's Mike Richards in the pre-season, Buffalo's Paul Gaustad in the regular season.

8 - Jersey number. Former No. 8 inhabitants include Tim Tookey, Lee Norwood, Larry Murphy, Bob Rouse, Dimitri Khristich, Jan Bulis, Josh Green. Future inhabitants of that particular sweater? Hmmm. Let's guess zero. By the way, Ovechkin wears No. 8 as a tribute to his mother, Tatiana, who wore the number while performing for Russia's Olympic gold-medal-winning basketball squad.

13 - Length, in years, of his contract extension, a pact worth $124 million US (which, reportedly, was brokered by his mother).

19 - Rank on Washington's all-time points charts in less than three full seasons, 10 ahead of Craig Laughlin and seven behind Dimitri Khristich. Tops is Peter Bondra, with 825. Ovechkin has passed 13 players already this winter.

22 - Age, born Sept. 17, 1985, at Moscow, Russia.

46 - Goal output his sophomore season, 2006-07. Fourth best.

52 - Goal output his rookie season, 2005-06. Third best.

63 - Takeaways, seventh most in the NHL.

176 - Missed shots. No one else is even close.

190 - Hits, which puts him 11th in the league. To put that into perspective, Dion Phaneuf has collected 172.

217 - Weight, in pounds, on his six-foot-two frame.

1,189 - Career shots. The annual totals - 425, 392, 372 - all top the NHL.

3,000 - Attendance increase at the Verizon Center since the 13-year extension was announced.

Sarich:

As a defenceman of the Tampa Bay Lightning -- Southeast Division mates of the Caps -- the veteran got more than a peek at Ovechkin. In 16 games, Sarich saw Ovechkin pile up 19 points, including nine goals. So take it from someone who knows.

"Definitely a dominant force," said Sarich. "He's got such a well-rounded game -- that's what makes him dangerous." And by "well-rounded," Sarich doesn't mean setting up goals and scoring them, too. He means burying pucks and burying opponents with equal ease, with equal appetite.

"He can go around you because he's got the skills and he can go right through you because he's an aggressive player," said Sarich. "I don't know if he's toned it down now, it being his third year in the league, but he used to definitely throw a lot of body around out there.
"It makes it difficult, especially on defencemen. Sometimes you're racing for a puck and you think, 'Hey, I'm going run over this guy,' and he gets the puck and goes around you. Next time you ease up a little bit because you're going to make a play on the puck and he rolls right over you. So he keeps you on your toes."

"You need to be close with him because he's always lurking near his blueline, trying to get a jump on you, so you have to have a decent gap there," explained Sarich. "The biggest thing is matching his speed through the neutral zone. You just have to be moving with him, not caught standing still.

"The best way to defend against him is to spend as much time as you can in their end. That's the least likely place he'd like to be on the ice . . . so you want to get that puck deep and just grind him out. I think that wears on him. He gets a little tired of just standing around -- he wants to be on the move."

Shane Hnidy:

Last week, Boston Bruins toughie Shane Hnidy managed to cork Ovechkin with an open-ice belt. Get your licks in before he does -- that was Hnidy's post-game message to reporters. "I was just finishing a hit," said Hnidy. "He's a guy that I know would put me through the ice, too. The way he plays, physically and offensively, he puts everything into it. He's a competitor. That's what we have to be. Everyone has to finish their hits and be strong."

Ask Philadelphia Flyers rearguard Derian Hatcher:

"Honestly, in my 17 years, I think he is the hardest player to play against," said Hatcher. "One on one, he's the toughest to defend. Ovechkin's so strong, you see guys run at him, he knocks them on their (butt). He's so strong, it throws another whole dynamic into it. There are a lot of quick guys who can shoot. But you can't knock Ovechkin off the puck, can't knock him off his feet."

Lindy Ruff:

"He's unbelievable," said Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff. "I admire the way he plays. I admire the enthusiasm. He can play a physical game. He can beat you one on one. He has a terrific shot. His energy and his passion, if you could bottle that and stick it inside your players, you would have an unbelievable team."

Dmitri Kapitonov is back

I had two posts about Dmitri Kapitonov:

• 07/19/07 Marathon man is training Ovechkin, Malkin and Gonchar in St. Petersburg


• 01/11/2008 Crosby to train with Ovechkin in off-season?

Here's more from Tarik El-Bashir (Washington Post) and Eric McErlain (Sporting News).

From Washington Post by Tarik El-Bashir, March 5, 2008, "Going the Distance"

Ovechkin has amassed four goals and three assists in the past two games, putting him back on pace to score 60 goals after a career-worst seven-game goal drought.

There are a few reasons for his recent outburst, but yesterday Ovechkin singled out his personal trainer, former Olympic marathoner Dmitri Kapitonov for helping him break out of his slump.

Kapitonov, who has worked with several other Russian hockey players, including Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar, specializes in massage therapy, cardiovascular fitness and sports psychology. In recent weeks, he has helped Ovechkin with proper warmup and cool-down techniques that, Ovechkin said, have helped him prepare and recover more thoroughly between games.

From Sporting News by Eric McErlain, March 7, 2008:

Kapitonov returned to Russia and worked with Roman Karmazin, former IBF light middleweight champion. He returned to the U.S. during the 2006-07 NHL season, met Ovechkin and helped him establish a regimen of therapeutic massage. With the relationship established, Ovechkin agreed to join Kapitonov and Russian NHL players in St. Petersburg for preseason camp.

Once Ovechkin arrived, it wasn't hard to tell what he had to work on. "Endurance," Kapitonov said. "He came about a week later than Gonchar, so he was a little behind. The first exercise we did involved running in sand. Alex couldn't finish it."

Ovechkin soon caught up with his compatriots, and Kapitonov called him the "best athlete" he's handled.

"I've never had a problem with him," Kapitonov said of Ovechkin. "He doesn't ever question [when given instructions], he just does it. He never questions. When an athlete trusts you like that you want to do your best for them."

Kapitonov gave no reason for Ovechkin's seven-game goal drought, but said on a recent visit he found Ovechkin had neglected off-ice exercise to maintain his endurance. Kapitonov got Ovechkin back on the exercise bike, improved Ovechkin's aerobic capacity and then got out of the way.

The girly-man got credited for Bäckström's goal

The girly squealing voice of Cindy Crosby is still ringing in my ears: "Haha, haha... Did he shoot that in his own net?! He shoot that in his own net!"

We know those goals in your own net happen all the time in hockey and other sports. In 1994 World Cup United States won the game vs. Columbia when their defender deflected the ball into their own net. He was shot to death shortly after getting back to Columbia.

Anyhow I've never in my entire life saw a player to score in your own net like Backstrom did.

Never.

It is usually a deflection or something like that. But he was shooting at the net as if it was Canadiens net with Huet in it. Could it be a temporary mental meltdown? Huet had Montreal Canadiens mask and played only few games for Caps.

It prompted some guy at mlive.com hockey forum to say:

"That looked so intentional that it probably was. Especially since Crosby was awarded the goal. That game looked fixed."

Of course it was not intentional, but it SURE LOOKED LIKE INTENTIONAL.

I've never seen something like that in my entire life.

From Deadspin.com "Nicklas Backstrom Plays for the Other Team."

Again, if you've not seen Backstrom's own-goal for the Capitals yesterday against the Penguins, educate yourself. He was trying to sweep it to the back boards, but ended up putting it behind Cristobal Huet for the Penguins' third goal (which, in true salt-in-the-wound fashion, was credited to Crosby).

From YouTube comments:
sweetsaz79 (1 hour ago)

Huet & Ovie's reactions broke my heart, and I'm not a Caps fan. Terrible brainfart.

And I hate Crosby even more for laughing like a hyena about it.

Update: Thanks to the comment by hamlet.
He pointed out to this video "Japanese hockey player, own goal. He celebrates!"

Ovechkin in NHL 'Three Stars' for a fourth time this season

From NHL.COM, Mar. 10, 2008:
NEW YORK -- Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur and San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending March 9.

FIRST STAR -- ALEX OVECHKIN, LW, WASHINGTON CAPITALS Ovechkin video

Ovechkin reached the 50-goal mark for the second time in his three NHL seasons Mar. 3, scoring a hat trick and adding two assists in Washington's 10-2 victory over the Boston Bruins. He reached the milestone in his team's 67th game of the season, the fastest since the Pittsburgh Penguins' Jaromir Jagr and Mario Lemieux (59th game) and the Buffalo Sabres' Alexander Mogilny (63rd game) in 1995-96. Ovechkin later scored a pair of goals in a 3-1 victory over the Sabres Mar. 5, tallied one assist in a 2-1 loss to the Bruins Mar. 8 and finished the week with two assists in a 4-2 loss to the Penguins Mar. 9. Ovechkin leads the NHL scoring race with 95 points (54-41--95) in 70 games.

Jan. 28
First Star -- Daniel Alfressson
Second Star -- Alex Ovechkin
Third Star -- Pascal LeClaire

Dec. 31
First Star -- Alexander Ovechkin
Second Star -- Jaromir Jagr
Third Star -- Evgeni Nabokov

Oct. 29
First Star -- Jason LaBarbera
Second Star -- Rod Brind'Amour
Third Star -- Alexander Ovechkin

Ovechkin's draft and the leap years

Someone on Capitals Insider blog was asking about the story of Ovechkin's draft and leap years...

Ovechkin was born on September 17th 1985 2 days after the September 15th deadline. Rick Dudley argued that because of 4 leap years since Ovechkin's birth he 18 and two days old on September 15. On Dudley's fourth attempt to convince the NHL of this, the league allowed the Panthers to pick Ovechkin in the ninth round. The pick was later ruled ineligible...

From RussianProspects.com, June 23, 2004:

Ovechkin's birthday - Sept. 17, 1985 - fell two days short of eligibility for the 2003 NHL draft, but the Florida Panthers reportedly tried to draft him anyway, arguing futilely that the four leap years during his lifetime qualified him as old enough.

"I didn't think anything special about that because it wasn't possible to do that year," Ovechkin said during this year's world junior hockey championship. "It's their job to search for good players. I understand it."

HFBoards archives, year 2003, "Did the Florida Panthers draft Alexander Ovechkin?"

Peter Griffin 10-01-2003, 01:37 PM
They did draft him. Their reasoning was that Ovechkin was born I believe two days after the cut-off for the draft, but since there has been more than 2 leap years since his birthday, it would somehow make him two days older than he actually was, making him eligible for the draft. This may have worked, but they forgot that to be draft eligible, you have to opt-in to the draft, unless you are over a certain age. Good try by the Panthers, but it didn't work.
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Raider Zero 10-01-2003, 02:06 PM
they tried a few times this past draft i beleive. Peter griffin summed up what they tried to do correctly. wasnt a bad idea, but he was not registered for this eyars draft anyways, so they couldnt take him even if the loop hole stood.
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Clash* 10-01-2003, 06:35 PM
They did draft him. Their reasoning was that Ovechkin was born I believe two days after the cut-off for the draft, but since there has been more than 2 leap years since his birthday, it would somehow make him two days older than he actually was, making him eligible for the draft. This may have worked, but they forgot that to be draft eligible, you have to opt-in to the draft, unless you are over a certain age. Good try by the Panthers, but it didn't work.

Don Meehan and Ovechkin tried to opt-in and were denied for the same exact reason the Panther's draft selection was turned down four or five times. The Panthers originally tried to draft Ovechkin in the fourth round, but finally got written proof they tried to draft Ovechkin in the ninth round. Nothin has been published about this havin gone any further after the draft, as it was Florida ownership and not the GM and coach who were tryin to make this move.
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Vman 10-01-2003, 08:27 PM
Why do I keep hearing about this Ovechkin guy? What's so special about this player?
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Oh boy, who could've imagine that they were trying to get the best hockey player of his generation?

NHL Network presents 'An Ovechkin Ovation' Sunday, March 9th at 4:30 P.M. ET

Nice recognition from NHL...

From NHL.COM, Mar. 7, 2008

NEW YORK – This past Monday, March 3rd, Washington Capitals scoring sensation Alexander Ovechkin’s hat trick resulted in his 50th, 51st and 52nd goals of the season. To commemorate this achievement, NHL Network presents “An Ovechkin Ovation,” a collection of Alex’s three 5-point performances from the 2007-08 season. This special programming begins at 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 9th following the NBC Sunday Game of the Week, which features Ovechkin and the Capitals against Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the rest of the Pittsburgh Penguins at 12:30 p.m. ET.

The “Ovation” begins with a look back to Ovechkin’s rookie season in the 30-minute program “Top 10 Alexander Ovechkin Goals of 2005-06.” Included in that list is his incredible sprawling-on-the-ice, no-look, backhand goal against the Coyotes that is still a favorite moment among fans.

Of the many memorable performances by the 22-year-old Russian scorer this season, NHL Network presents the three games where Ovechkin’s dynamic skills are on full display as he tallies 5-points in each game. First, at 5:00 p.m. ET, is the December 29th tilt in Ottawa against the Senators where Ovechkin had 4 goals and an assist in an 8-6 Capitals win. At 7:00 p.m. ET, see Alex score four more goals – including the overtime game winner – and an assist after sustaining a broken nose in the January 31st victory against the Montreal Canadiens. At 9:00 p.m. ET, re-live Washington’s scoring outburst from this past Monday as his first-period hat trick and 2 assists helped the Capitals defeat the Boston Bruins 10-2.

Five points is a good week for most players. For Alexander Ovechkin, it is just another day at the office.

Buffalo News: Ovechkin is the best player of his generation

Finally the moment of truth...

From From the Buffalo News, March 6, 2008 "Ovechkin draws acclaim from all"

When the praise comes from a teammate, it can be easily dismissed because that’s what teammates do when thrown before the cameras and microphones. So maybe it didn’t add up to much Wednesday when Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig glanced across the dressing room and began fawning over Alex Ovechkin.

“He’s the best player I’ve ever played with, there’s no question,” Kolzig said. “I’ve played with [Jaromir] Jagr. I’ve played with [Peter] Bondra. I’ve played with a number of guys. They all have their specific strengths, but this guy does it all.”

When the praise comes from his coach, it can be easily disregarded, too, because that’s what coaches do. Two days after Ovechkin recorded his third hat trick and third five-point night to surpass 50 goals this season, Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau predictably shook his head in disbelief over his best player.

“We see him every day,” Boudreau said, “and there’s been four or five occasions when you say, ‘He can’t top this, he can’t be better than this, he can’t do that.’ And then he does.”

OK, you've got the pattern...
When the praise comes from the Washington media, it can be easily dismissed...
When the praise comes from the NHL.COM, it can be easily dismissed...
When the praise comes from the ESPN.COM, it can be easily dismissed...
When the praise comes from the TSN.CA, it can be easily dismissed...
When the praise comes from the SI.CA, it can be easily dismissed...

When the praise comes from the Buffalo News, from the place and the only rink in North America that boos Alex Ovechkin? That must be one of the greatest moments in the following of Alexander Ovechkin, the best player of his generation.

“He is unbelievable,” Ruff said. “I admire the way he plays. I admire the enthusiasm. He can play a physical game. He can beat you one on one. He has a terrific shot. His energy and his passion, if you could bottle that and stick it inside your players, you would have an unbelievable team.”

Ruff marveled over the left winger, so he couldn’t have been too surprised when Ovechkin scored on a breakaway in the first period and put the Sabres away in the third with a hard wrist shot that handcuffed Ryan Miller in Washington’s 3-1 victory. It gave Ovechkin 31 goals and 54 points in 36 games and the Caps a 20-10-6 record since Dec. 15.

In between his goals Wednesday, he knocked newcomer Steve Bernier off the puck near the blue line, allowing Viktor Kozlov to find Nicklas Backstrom for the second Washington goal after Buffalo tied the game.

“He’s so good for the game,” Ruff said. “His energy is so good for the game. He’s having so much fun playing the game. When Pat [Kaleta] scored the other night, it puts a smile on your face. It’s what the game is all about. There’s not a lot of fun moments in the game. [Ovechkin] makes it fun almost shift in, shift out. And he’s not a fun guy to play against. When he hits you, he hurts you. What an element to have as a player.”

The more Ruff talked Wednesday, the more obvious it became that Ovechkin is the best player of his generation. Yes, that includes Sidney Crosby. The Penguins superstar is the face of the NHL, but Ovechkin is the guy coaches want on their teams because the Great Eight dominates in so many ways.

You could scour NHL history books and not find another player quite like him. You need a scorer? Ovechkin leads the league with 54 goals and 92 points in 68 games. You need a leader? The Capitals would be long gone from playoff contention without his nine winners. You want a banger? Ovechkin is 6- foot-2, 217 pounds, plays 6-6, 260, and works the corners like a hot dog vendor. He led both teams with five hits Wednesday night.

All this, of course, with mussed hair under his helmet and a gap-toothed smile that makes him look like a 7-year-old tearing up the local house league. In many ways, he’s not much different. Nobody has a better time being better than everybody else, which explains why he celebrated his 54th goal this season like it was the first of his career. “Lucky shot,” he said.

Yeah, right. Attendance in Washington jumped more than 3,000 per game for 14 contests after he signed a 13-year contract extension worth $124 million. Fans there know he’s a good kid, a great player, a refreshing face for a team on the rise. He’s worth watching. Ask anybody.

Jest ask me...

This is the Valentine Day Massacre on ice

The front page of NHL.COM, March 3, 2008.

Thanks to Capitals Insider blog poster JIM for the headline. I know, the Valentine's Day was two weeks ago, but it does sound good. :-)

Globe & Mail (AP) Mar. 3, 2008 "52 and counting for Ovechkin"

WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin scored a hat trick in Washington's six-goal first period, and he finished with five points in the Capitals' 10-2 victory over the Boston Bruins Monday.

Ovechkin's three goals give him a league-leading 52 and made him the first to 50 in the NHL this season.

He was credited with a fourth goal in the third period, but official scorers changed it later giving him an assist on Brooks Laich's power-play goal that made it 9-2.

Ovechkin's two assists gave him 38 on the season as Washington snapped Boston's six-game winning streak.

TSN.CA RSS Feed headline: OVECH-KING!

Alexander Ovechkin widened his lead for the 2008 Rocket Richard Trophy on Monday, scoring his a hat trick for his 50th, 51st and 52nd goals in Washington's home game against the Boston Bruins.

The Capitals' winger became the first player to reach 50 goals this season.
By hitting the 50-goal mark in his 67 games, Ovechkin is the fastest player to reach the feat since Pavel Bure did it in 63 games during the 1999-00 season.

He is also the first Capital to reach the plateau since Peter Bondra notched 52 goals in 1997-98.

The 22-year-old All-Star scored 52 tallies during his rookie season, joining Bondra and Dennis Maruk as the only Capitals to score 50 goals in a season twice. No Washington player has ever reached the milestone three times.

Alex the Superman Ovechkin

Great video work. Retired Caps uniforms and the haircut.

I like the old haircut, but the new uniform are better. :-)




Alex has two car garage. ...hmmm... Time to move to a bigger place? White BMW and white Mercedez, nice....
These guys are definitely good at renovating garages.

Malkin was lucky

Wow, Malkin is lucky to get outta there! According to NY Times Slap Shot, a new law will prevent Russian players to leave to NHL. "Under the new law the athlete can still get out of a contract, but only after compensating his employer. The law will go into effect on March 30."

For now Malkin was maybe the last great hockey prospect out of Russia to NHL. With the new law it will be extremely hard to get to NHL for the likes of Malkin and Ovechkin.

70vechkin?

Well, I sure hope Ovechkin scores a couple tonight, playing against Canadian teams always energizes him.

MARK ZWOLINSKI, thestar.com, Mar 01, "70vechkin?"

Capitals young superstar has a chance to become the first player in 15 years to hit the 70-goal mark, and even the Great One himself is impressed

The Leafs will be trying to do more than just stop Alexander Ovechkin tonight when they square off against the Capitals in Washington.

They will be trying to stop some modern-day history.

Ovechkin, already the NHL's top goal scorer this season with 48, has his eyes on reaching 70, something that hasn't been done since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny did it in 1992-93.

If he hits 61, he'll set a Capitals record.

The 23-year-old Russian superstar enters tonight's game against the Leafs needing 22 goals over the final 17 games to crack the 70-goal barrier.

"If I could score 70, I will be very happy," Ovechkin told the Washington Times this week. "It is good when you score lots of goals, but it is hard.

"We will see at the end of the year. Right now I have two more to score 50, and 50 is a big deal. Not many score 50 either."

Ovechkin needs only to pass Jonathan Cheechoo's 56 goals from two seasons ago to become the top post-lockout goal scorer. Other milestones include 61, the franchise mark, and the second most scored by a Russian-born player – and 63 which would surpass any other player besides Mario Lemieux in the past 14 years.

The biggest obstacle in Ovechkin's way is that the NHL is in the playoff stretch run, and teams have long since tightened their defences and cracked down on scoring threats like Ovechkin.

"Seventy goals in today's game is a difficult achievement, but if anyone can do it, it's him," Gretzky said yesterday via email.

While some people might doubt if Ovechkin can hit 70, it's not out of the realm of possibility for him to carry a goal-a-game pace over an extended period.

This season has seen him score 22 in 22 – during a tear between Dec. 12 and Jan. 31.

New coach Bruce Boudreau is letting Ovechkin do what he does best, instead of shackling all that offensive talent in favour of a defence-first approach.

Since Boudreau took over the coaching reins in mid-November, Ovechkin has 34 goals in 44 games.

Back in December, Boudreau made the move to pair Ovechkin with rookie centre Nicklas Backstrom. Ovechkin praised Backstrom for his playmaking abilities.

Leafs coach Paul Maurice sees a connection to Ovechkin's 70-goal bid and the fact he's highlighted in the Washington offence as the go-to guy.

"It's (70-goal season) much more possible now," Maurice said. "There's a few more power plays than a few years ago. I think that has a lot to do it.

"I think the bulk of the offence (in Washington) is still derived around him.

"A team like Pittsburgh, is the puck going to get to (Sidney) Crosby or (Evgeni) Malkin more now? Those guys spread it around. If you have one pure shooter in your lineup, he's the guy that the puck has to get to when they're on the power play,'' said Maurice, who pointed to the Atlanta Thrashers as a team with a similarly singular focus.

"(Ilya) Kovalchuk is more likely to (score) now (since fellow sniper Marian Hossa was traded). On the power play, the puck always needs to find him," Maurice added.

Once he surpasses 50 goals, and approaches milestones with every goal, Ovechkin is certain to face more attention from fans, media and opponents.

Only seven players have cracked the 70-goal barrier, and six of them did it in the greatest individual goal-scoring era, the period between Gretzky's 92-goal campaign in 1981-82, and the 1992-93 season featuring Mogilny and Selanne.

Gretzky, who owns the best single season goals-per-game mark at 1.176, says Ovechkin's success will be based largely on how he handles the pressure he exerts on himself.

"The pressure to do anything comes from within the individual," Gretzky said.