Russian Machine Never Breaks

Will Matt Hendricks Be Back With the Capitals Next Year?

On May 16, 2013, In Interview, News, By Chris Gordon

Hendy high-fives fans as he walks down the tunnel to the Capitals locker room. (Photo credit: Patrick McDermott)

Matt Hendricks is a beloved player in Washington, but by no means is he an essential one. The Caps know that, and he knows that. With his two-year, $1.65 million contract expiring on July 5, he may have played his last game as a Cap. Hendricks, though, hopes that’s not true.

“I hope I don’t get to that date in July,” he said Wednesday at Kettler Capitals Iceplex as the team cleared out their lockers. “I hope I’m back here in Washington.”

“We’ve been in the negotiating process over the course of the season,” Hendricks added. “It’s a business. It’s a big part of the business. You want to get what you feel you deserve and what you feel is right.”

Tagged with: Matt Hendricks

Alex Ovechkin Played With a Fractured Foot in Games Six and Seven

On May 16, 2013, In News, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: Bruce Bennett

I appreciate the gesture, but I’d really rather not have my team’s $10-million superstar throwing his body in front of ballistic vulcanized rubber. – RMNB game 6 recap

Washington’s one surviving newspaper beat writer, Katie Carrera, dropped this bomb on Thursday afternoon:

Alex Ovechkin played the final two games of the Capitals’ first-round series against New York with a hairline fracture in his left foot, according to a league source with direct knowledge of the winger’s injury.

Ovechkin reportedly sustained the injury blocking shots during the first period of game six. We wrote about it at the time.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Blocked Shot • GIF

Sad Ovi: Despite Goal and Assist, Alex Ovechkin’s Season Ends After Russia’s 8-3 WC Loss to USA

On May 16, 2013, In Photos, Video, World Championship, By Ian Oland

Photo credit: championat.com

Alex Ovechkin flew for approximately ten hours to Helsinki with the intention of helping the Russian national team win the 2013 World Championships. Jet-lagged, he did what he could, scoring a goal and recording an assist against the United States during their quarterfinals game on Thursday. That help was not nearly enough, as the defending champions suffered their worst defeat ever in a World Championship game, a 8-3 loss to the United States. After half a year in the KHL, a shortened NHL season, a too-short playoff run, and a single game at Worlds, Ovechkin’s season is now officially over.

Ovechkin, who spoke to Sovetsky Sport’s Pavel Lysenkov after the game and had his words later translated by Puck Daddy’s Dmitry Chesnokov, was disappointed.

Tagged with: 2013 World Championships • Alex Ovechkin • GIF

Fake Exclusive: Alex Ovechkin and Adam Oates’ Late-Night Text Messages

On May 15, 2013, In Exclusive, Photos, By Peter Hassett

Photo credit: AP

Adam Oates had lots to say during his breakdown-day interview at Ketler Capitals Iceplex on Wednesday, but the most interesting revelation was that he and star player Alex Ovechkin had an extended text-message chat after the team’s heartbreaking defeat in game seven of the quarterfinal round.

Upon hearing that, RMNB immediately sprung into action, contacting our sister publication across the pond, News of the World. Our brother-from-another-mother Jimmy Murdoch put us in touch with some folks, and voila!– we have recovered this conversation between Oates and Ovechkin.

Tagged with: Adam Oates • Alex Ovechkin • Text Messages

Mike Ribeiro: Alex Ovechkin “Has a Lot to Learn About the Game and How to Play It”

On May 15, 2013, In Interview, News, By Chris Gordon

Ribs salutes the fans after his overtime goal in game five. (Photo credit: Patrick McDermott)

For perhaps the final time in DC, Mike Ribeiro is street. (Photo credit: Chris Gordon)

For perhaps the final time in DC, Mike Ribeiro is #swag. (Photo credit: Chris Gordon)

The Washington Capitals have been searching for a second-line center for years. Last summer, they finally got one. In a shortened season with the Caps, Mike Ribeiro was excellent — even when his team wasn’t. He anchored Washington’s power play, turning Alex Ovechkin – a guy the Caps have invested $123 million in — into a lethal threat. He stabilized the top six. He led the league in points on the man advantage, a huge source of the team’s scoring. He will soon be a free agent. The captain wants him back, though, and so does the coach.

“The most important thing is to re-sign Ribs,” Ovechkin told Slava Malamud. “It will be tough without him.”

“You all saw how valuable he was to our team,” Adam Oates added. “Hopefully the parties will work it out because we love him.”

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • George McPhee • Mike Ribeiro

Alex Ovechkin Arrives in Finland For World Championships, Team Russia Has Photo Day

On May 15, 2013, In Photos, Translations, By Ian Oland

Photo credit: championat.com

While the rest of his teammates conducted interviews on breakdown day, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin touched down in Finland for the 2013 World Championships. And we have some disappointing news: he only wore one pair of pants.

Ovi told Championat.com’s Igor Bragin that while he slept peacefully for most of the flight, the journey was not without challenges – all of the Great Eight’s gear was missing when the plane touched down.

Tagged with: 2013 World Championships • Alex Ovechkin • Evgeny Kuznetsov

Mike Green’s Hair on Breakdown Day (Photo)

On May 15, 2013, In Photos, By Ian Oland

Photo via @raedanda

If you’re looking for a symbol that articulates the Washington Capitals 2012-13 season, look no further than Mike Green‘s hair on breakdown day. Green, looking as if he just rolled out of bed, sported a massive mohawk, every hair follicle seemingly unsure which direction it wanted to point towards. The mohawk then flowed tidily into a well-kempt beard.

Tagged with: Hair • Mike Green

Alex Ovechkin Reveals Injury: “Of Course There Were Aches and Pains”

On May 15, 2013, In News, Translations, By Chris Gordon

Ovechkin speaks to the media at Kettler on Tuesday. (Photo credit: Alex Brandon)

Alex Ovechkin played in 86 games between the NHL and KHL this year. Though the season was lockout-shortened, several Capitals stars were still bruised and battered. Nick Backstrom injured his neck in Russia, Brooks Laich injured his groin in Switzerland, and various others dropped off along the way. We know now Ovi was playing through some sort of injury as well.

“Of course, there were aches and pains,” he told Slava Malamud of Sport-Express in Russian after game seven Monday. “Won’t say anything about needles, but injuries are always there. There were enough hits and physical play.”

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Injury

RMNB Semifinal Playoff Predictions: Peter vs Ian

On May 14, 2013, In Opinion, Playoffs, By Peter Hassett

Image by Cook the Chef

Welp, this is less than fun now, but we’re freaking obligated. The thing about making public predictions is that when you (and by you, I mean me) get ‘em wrong, it’s really embarrassing. I picked just 3 winners out of 8, so basically I’m worse than a coin-toss. I’m having self-worth issues right now. Meanwhile, Ian, used some blind freaking luck to get 5 out of 8. And we’re both emotionally unstable right now.

Let’s do it!

Tagged with: Peter vs Ian • Stanley Cup Playoffs

Ridin’ Solo: That Time Slow Jamz Interrupted Alex Ovechkin’s Press Conference

On May 14, 2013, In News, By Chris Gordon

Alex Ovechkin was understandably disappointed when he met the media for the final time this season. The Caps had been eliminated from the playoffs just 15 hours earlier, the sixth career postseason defeat of Ovechkin’s career.

It wasn’t all sad though. As Chuck Gormley of CSN Washington began a question about the quality of this Caps team compared to ones in the past, an R&B song began blasting from the Kettler PA system — specifically “Ridin’ Solo” by Jason Derulo. In a surreal moment, the music kept thundering in the rink for almost a minute. Ovechkin, and most of the media, couldn’t hold a straight face. It was funny.

Jump below to listen to how the whole thing went down.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin

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Russian Machine Never Breaks

Will Matt Hendricks Be Back With the Capitals Next Year?

Alex Ovechkin Played With a Fractured Foot in Games Six and Seven

Sad Ovi: Despite Goal and Assist, Alex Ovechkin’s Season Ends After Russia’s 8-3 WC Loss to USA

Fake Exclusive: Alex Ovechkin and Adam Oates’ Late-Night Text Messages

Mike Ribeiro: Alex Ovechkin “Has a Lot to Learn About the Game and How to Play It”

Alex Ovechkin Arrives in Finland For World Championships, Team Russia Has Photo Day

Mike Green’s Hair on Breakdown Day (Photo)

Alex Ovechkin Reveals Injury: “Of Course There Were Aches and Pains”

RMNB Semifinal Playoff Predictions: Peter vs Ian

Ridin’ Solo: That Time Slow Jamz Interrupted Alex Ovechkin’s Press Conference

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