Photo credit: dynamo.ru

Before Dynamo’s game against Ak Bars Wednesday, there was a pre-game ceremony to honor Caps captain Alex Ovechkin. The Russian machine, who played a big part in capturing gold for Team Russia at the 2012 World Championships, was given a championship ring from one of the greatest goaltenders of all-time, Vladislav Tretiak.

The ring, which came in a suspicious white bag (for easy concealment), is Russian to the core. It has the double-headed eagle coat of arms on one side, and the Russian flag on rubies at top. The shape is not too dissimilar from a glowing piece of the aggro crag from GUTS. I’d put the chances of this ring possessing magical powers at 85%.

I know it’s not a Stanley Cup, but at least Ovi’s winning something.

Photo credit: dynamo.ru

Three guys, one cup. (Photo credit: ria.ru)

On Tuesday afternoon in Moscow, a giant double-decker bus adorned with World Championship logos ambled down Tverskaya Street (Moscow’s version of Broadway). Members of Russia’s championship team, including Capitals superstars Alex Ovechkin and Alex Semin, were honored for their third IIHF championship in five years.

After the players waved to fans along the parade route, the bus arrived at its first destination, Manezhnaya Square, and the gold medal winners were escorted to a stage and cheered on by an estimated 4,000 fans. The players shared stories on the mic, a band played (but not this song– bummer), and the team was honored by a few ministers of sport.

Then it was off to their next stop: Novo-Ogarevo– and Vladimir Putin’s summer home.

There the on-again, off-again Russian president served the team dinner and gave each player a plaque, “a commendation for their contribution to the IIHF World Championship victory.” The players then presented Putin with gifts. Reportedly there were no poisonings at the event.

Ovechkin, who wore slippers to the Kremlin in 2008 after winning his first championship, actually dressed the part this time, wearing a navy blue suit sans tie. Semin apparently didn’t get the team memo about dark suits and instead wore a grey and pink number. He’s easy to pick out in the photos.

Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov did not attend either ceremony due to — as Valery Fesyuk, executive director of the Russian Hockey Federation, put it — “treatment of an injury.”

The players will receive their world championship rings in August. Ovechkin will now return to France. “I have to go back to Roland Garros,” Ovi said. “I will be there to watch tennis and will be rooting for Ilya Kovalchuk, who fights for the Stanley Cup.”

Photos from the Parade

Subtle. (Photo credit: championat.com)

Alex willfully breaks the “keep arms and heads inside the bus at all times” rule. (Photo credit: championat.com)

See him? Dude in the middle is totally taking a picture with his iPad. (Photo credit: championat.com)

Varly wrote the lyrics to “The Rains of Castamere” on this mask and then put it up on Etsy.

 I know it was you, Fredo. (Photo credit: championat.com)

Sasha breaks dress code, ruins group photo. Tres énigmatique. (Photo credit: championat.com)

The humpty dance is Sasha’s chance to do the hump. (Photo credit: championat.com)

Geno gets the primary assist on Ovi’s trophy lift. (Photo credit: championat.com)

Nope. No idea. Some things are too Russian even for us.

Alex Semin high-fives his imaginary friend Woland. (Photo credit: championat.com)

Genuine smiles too sincere to spoil with a snide caption. (Photo credit: championat.com)

Photos of Ceremony with Putin

Putin and Geno discuss hockey fashion and vectors of male pattern baldness. (Photo credit: kremlin.ru)

Proud papa Putin with the Great Eight. (Photo credit: kremlin.ru)

Putin is visibly disappointed that there’s no chocolate inside. (Photo credit: kremlin.ru)

Video

Blood drips down Semin’s forehead. Ouchie.

We thought we’d seen all the casualties of the Russian team celebrating their World Championship win on Sunday, but it turns out there’s one more war wound to document.

Teammate Alex Ovechkin took a spill while helping throw their coach in the air, and Semyon Varlamov took a spill when hoisting the trophy, but Alex Semin actually drew blood.

Via Pavel Lynsekov at Sovetsky Sport:

Alex Semin has blood on his forehead.

Question: “Is it from a hit by a Slovak?”

Alex Semin: “Oh no, I was pulling my jersey off and smacked myself on the head with the medal. And it cut the skin open. It’s heavy!..”

So it turns out Evgeny Kuznetsov was the only player in the Caps organization that did not have some basic failure in motor function that day.

Those weren’t the only hijinks involving the  medals. KHL president Alexander Medvedev tried to give Ovechkin a second medal after Vladislav Tretiak had already put one around his neck (See the video below). Ovechkin didn’t accept the second gold, and politely pushed Medvedev away.

The Ovechkin moment comes at :45 seconds into the video.

Lynsekov’s article also documents other follies of the day, like when the team poured champagne into the trophy only to discover a hole in the bottom. The Russian players reportedly tried to plug this hole with their fingers while waiting for their coach– not wanting to drink without him.

The next international tournament is a long ways off now, and we have to hope the Russians don’t win it. For health reasons.

S/t to varlysuperfan.tumblr.com for initially posting. Translation by Igor Kleyner.

Alex Semin has been relatively quiet since joining the Russian national team for the World Championships, recording only assists in his two games played before the final gold-medal round. Semin showed up for Team Russia in a big way today, scoring twice and recording one assist to lead the team to a 6-2 win, securing their first World Championship gold medal since 2009.

Slovakia came out strong at the beginning of the game, Zdeno Chara scoring within the first two minutes to take an early lead. It didn’t take long for Russia to push back — a goal from Semin tied up the game, and Russia went on to score four more unanswered goals from Alexander Perezhogin, Alexei Tereshenko, Pavel Datsyuk, Evgeni Malkin, and Semin again. Alex Ovechkin took a slashing penalty late in the third, allowing Zdeno Chara the opportunity to score again on the power play.

Ovechkin notched two assists in the win, playing on a line with Datsyuk and Semin. Evgeny Kuznetsov, who has seen his ice time dwindle since Ovechkin and Semin joined the team in Sweden, only had one shift during the game, on the fourth line.

The Russian national team won all ten of its games this year, with a combined score of 44-14. This is Team Russia’s third World Championship gold medal in five years.

The game will be re-aired on NBCSN at 9:00 PM EST.

Video of Semin’s Goals

Photos

Photo credit: photo.khl.ru

Semin scores. (Photo via sashastolemyheart.tumblr.com)

“We did it!” (Photo via sashastolemyheart.tumblr.com)

Photo via merkitheperfectionist.tumblr.com

Photo via h0ckey-l0ve.tumblr.com

Photo via sashastolemyheart.tumblr.com

Varly celebrates his first ever World Championship gold medal. (Photo via veronikacw.tumblr.com)

Photo via chinchillin67.tumblr.com

Check out Ovi on the bottom right!

The Russians toss Head Coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov in the air to celebrate.

Photo credit: championat.com

Alex Semin and Zdeno Chara receive their player of the game awards. (Photo credit: Andre Ringuette)

Zdeno Chara wears a Pavol Demitra jersey backwards in tribute. (Photo via milanlucheck.tumblr.com)

Ilya Nikulin holds up the World Championships trophy. (Photo via russianhockeyplayers.tumblr.com)

Photo credit: championat.com

Ovechkin kisses the trophy. (Photo credit: championat.com)

Photo credit: championat.com

Photo via ovechkate.tumblr.com

The Sashas carry the Russian flag around the ice. (Photo credit: championat.com)

Photo credit: championat.com

Team picture! (Photo credit: Andre Ringuette)

Ovi drinks champagne from the cup. (Photo credit: @hockeyreview)

Additional reporting by Ian Oland.

Ovi celebrates his goal. (Photo credit: Championat.com/Getty Images)

Despite allowing the first goal, the Russians dominated the Finns for almost the whole game, winning 6-2. Evgeny Malkin scored a hat trick, while Alex Ovechkin, Denis Kokarev and Sergei Shirokov each added a goal of their own.

Ovechkin scored in the second period through a screen set by teammate Alexander Perezhogin, eluding several defenders to put the puck over Finnish goalie Petri Vehanen’s shoulder. It’s his second goal in two games played since joining the national team in Sweden.

Alex Semin did not appear on the scoresheet, and had no shots on goal. Evgeny Kuznetsov played in 2:26 TOI in three shifts, all in the third period. Semyon Varlamov made 29 saves in the win.

The Russian team will play Slovakia in the gold medal game on Sunday. It begins at 12:15 EST tomorrow.

Video of Alex Ovechkin’s Goal

Photos

Photo credit: Andre Ringuette/IIHF

More Hunter Hockey from Alex Semin. (Photo credit: Championat.com/Getty Images)

Varly makes a pad save on a shot by Mikael Granlund, as Sasha Minor looks on. (Photo credit: Jeff Vinnick)

Ovi goes for a big hit. (Photo credit: Championat.com/Getty Images)

Malkin in pain. (Photo credit: rsport.ru)

Malkin scores. (Photo credit: rsport.ru)

Malkin celebrates his hat trick. (Photo credit: Jeff Vinnick)

The ice crew collects the hats thrown by fans. (Photo credit: rsport.ru)

Varly celebrates the win. (Photo credit: Championat.com/Getty Images)

Semin hugs Varly. Angry Bird comes onto the ice! (Photo credit: rsport.ru)

The hand-shake line. (Photo credit: Andre Ringuette)

Ovi and Malkin watch the Russian flag rise as their National Anthem is played. (Photo credit: Jeff Vinnick)

Ovi speaks to reporters after the game. (Photo credit: photo.khl.ru)

Semin too! (Photo credit: photo.khl.ru)

Russian hockey writer Alexey Shevchenko, has been following the Russian National Team around during their stay at the World Championships, filming their exploits.

A few days ago, Shevechenko was hanging out with Evgeny Kuznetsov when Kuzya found the puck-firing machine set up for fans at the World Championships in Sweden, and decided to jump in.

Video is below the jump.

Kuznetsov’s shot was recently named the hardest amongst Caps prospects by Hockey’s Future, but despite doing his best Alexander Ryazantsev impression, Kuzya did not set the record. That honor went to a Swedish bystander, who shot a puck at 140 km/h.

He wasn’t the only fan who showed up the Russian star — another fan shooting in the lane right beside him shot nearly as fast as him on the first try, prompting Kuzya to take over his lane and shoot pucks until he was able to beat him again.

I guess it was the wrong day to wear a tight leather jacket.

Photo credit: ria.ru

Top-seeded Team Russia defeated Team Norway today with a score of 5-2 to advance to the semifinals of the World Championship being held in Stockholm. Alex Ovechkin and Alex Semin joined their national team on the ice for the first time and had an immediate impact, with Ovechkin scoring the first goal of the night and Semin providing two assists.

Ovechkin broke a World Championships pointless streak stretching back through all five games of last year’s tournament, scoring nearly eight minutes into the game. His tally began with teammate Alex Semin going strong to the net with the puck, allowing the Russian superstar to collect a rebound behind Norwegian goalie Lars Haugen. Ovechkin then knocked the puck in when he attempted to center the puck.

Ovi, Semin, Kuznetsov, and the rest of Team Russia will play Finland in the semifinals, which will take place on Saturday.

Video of Ovechkin’s Goal

Photos

Photo credit: Andre Ringuette/IIHF

Photo credit: championat.com

Photo credit: Andre Ringuette/IIHF

Photo credit: Andre Ringuette/IIHF

Ovi celebrates his goal with Kuzya and the rest of Team Russia. (Photo credit: championat.com)

Ovi smiles with Team Captain Ilya Nikulin after the game. (Photo credit: Andre Ringuette/IIHF)

Hunter Hockey from AS28? (Photo credit: Andre Ringuette/IIHF)

Ovechkin shakes hands with Norwegian goalie Lars Volden. (Photo credit: Andre Ringuette/IIHF)

Ovechkin and Malkin stand during the national anthem after the game. (Photo credit: Andre Ringuette/IIHF)

Photo via varlysuperfan.tumblr.com

After the Capitals packed-up their gear and met with management one final time on breakdown day, the 2011-12 NHL season officially ended. But for a few Caps stars, there is still more hockey to play.

The 2012 World Championships — which are being held in Stockholm and Helsinki this year — began on May 4th while the Capitals started their second round series against the Rangers. The Swedish and Russian national teams, both aware that several of their countries’ best players were still playing in the NHL playoffs, held roster spots open just in case those players’ teams were eliminated.

When the Capitals lost in Game Seven to New York on Saturday, it freed up Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin, and Alex Semin to play for their national teams for a select number of games to end the tournament.

On Tuesday, all three players arrived in Stockholm after a long flight and had an eventful day.

Two hours after Ovechkin and Semin arrived together in Sweden, they hit the ice at Globe arena and practiced with third-string goalie, Mikhail Biryukov. The rest of Team Russia had the day off. Head Coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov announced that the Caps duo would play in Russia’s first quarterfinals game on Thursday and would be on a line with Detroit Red Wings superstar Pavel Datsyuk.

As soon as Backstrom arrived in Stockholm, he told the media waiting for him at the airport that, “I’m going straight to on-ice warmups, I‘d like to play tonight!” And play he did.

Backstrom had an assist and two shots on goal in 18:57 of ice time during Sweden’s 4-0 victory over Latvia.

“It’s fun to play here again and get my first game in,” Backstrom, in his first WC since 2006, was quoted by the IIHF’s official website. “We won, too, so that’s good, and we’re looking forward to the quarter-finals against the Czechs.”

Below, we’ve shared some of our favorite photos and video from the day that was.

Nicklas Backstrom Arrives in Sweden

Photos via sashastolemyheart.tumblr.com

Ovechkin and Semin arrive in Stocholm

Photo via sashastolemyheart.tumblr.com

Nice hat, Sasha Minor! (Photo by rsport.ru)

Photo via sashastolemyheart.tumblr.com

The Ovechhug: Ovechkin Embraces Semyon Varlamov

Photo credit: izvestia.ru

The hug happens at the 28 second mark.

GIF created by carrotbazooka.tumblr.com

Ovechkin and Semin Practice

Photo by championat.com

Photos via varlysuperfan.tumblr.com

Photo credit: sportbox.ru

Backstrom Plays Against Latvia

Photos via sashastolemyheart.tumblr.com