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It’s game seven. It’s do or die. Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin isn’t going to stand idly by as his team’s season hangs in the balance.
With 11:38 left in the first period, Ovechkin stepped out on the ice for a shift, and it was inspiring. Ovechkin laid out three New York Rangers players with big hits and left the ice to a roaring standing ovation from the sold out Verizon Center crowd.
Let’s recap.
Photo credit: Greg Fiume
The Caps’ division-clinching 5-3 win over Winnipeg Tuesday was filled with great moments: like George McPhee’s fist-pump, Matt Hendricks open-audition to be in the Jabbawockeez, and fans serenading Alex Ovechkin with a loud M-V-P chant. But let’s not overlook Mike Green‘s magic moment, the one where he hip-checked forever-Penguin Eric Tangradi head-over-heels.
Photo credit: @luvdcaps
All things considered, Alex Ovechkin had a quiet night on Tuesday. But, at this point, a quiet night for Alex Ovechkin means a goal to clinch a division championship, a crucial assist, and one literally earth-shattering hit. Verizon Center serenaded Ovechkin to “MVP” chants and signs, cheering him on in his comeback season. It was a perfect night.
Lets’ review.
Way back in November, Igor and I spoke to Dmitry Orlov’s best friend Alex Burmistrov in Hershey. When we asked Burmistrov about his friendship with his fellow Russian, the Jets forward said, “I don’t think either one of us ever hit another when we played against each other.”
Alex Ovechkin and Alex Semin do not have such an agreement.
With fifteen minutes left in the second period of Sasha Bowl IV, Ovechkin and Semin raced for a puck along the boards. Semin did not make it there.
Photo credit: Paul Bereswill
Claude Giroux is one of the best and toughest players in the NHL. Last season, he had 93 points for the Flyers and then played beer pong two weeks after getting dual wrist surgery. It’s hard not to like him.
Capitals rookie defenseman Steve Oleksy is pretty tough customer too. Midway through the third period of Sunday’s game, as Giroux tried to glove the puck, Oleksy delivered a big, clean, open-ice hit on the Flyers captain.
Photo credit: Marianne Helm
We’re always talking about what’s wrong with Alex Ovechkin (see Milbury, Mike). But for once why don’t we discuss some of the stuff that’s going right with the guy? For starters: the buzzcut.
Ovi was the best player on the ice during Thursday’s must-win game (whatever that means) against the Winnipeg Jets. The Russian machine scored a clutch third period power play goal, assisted on two other Caps tallies, and had the most inspiring shift of the game — wherein he walloped both Bryan Little and Mark Stuart with big hits — all in Washington’s 4-0 shutout win over Winnipeg.
Photo credit: Mike Stobe
Hershey Bears call-up Steve Oleksy has played only three games in the NHL, but he’s made a big impression already. During his Washington Capitals debut, he scored his first NHL point, and he leveled Shawn Thornton with a highlight-reel hit. A few nights later against Florida, Oleksy walloped Mike Santorelli with a big hip check. And against the New York Islanders on Saturday, Oleksy continued his exposition of the most risky hit in hockey, hip-checking Matt Martin to the ice.
Video below.
Steve Oleksy is quickly becoming a fan favorite here in DC. In his first game with the Caps, the 27-year-old defenseman scored his first NHL point with a secondary assist on a Mike Ribeiro goal. He also had a huge first period hit on Shawn Thornton. On Thursday night against the Panthers, Oleksy showed he can get fancy with his hits too, hip-checking Mike Santorelli hard into the boards.
Video is below the jump.
Note: I’m writing this post heavily medicated and a day after right-leg surgery. Yes, I’m hockey-player tough.
While the Washington Capitals got outplayed in the first period of Saturday’s game against the Jets, they came out strong in the second , scoring some goals and getting a little cocky. I love it when my favorite team gets cocky. Particularly because it can lead to a line brawl, one started by five-foot, ten-inch (yeah right) French Canadian Mathieu Perreault.*
After absorbing a legal shoulder-check from tough guy defenseman Zach Bogosian, Perry decided to get a lil’ saucy and slash Bogosian in the legs. Bad idea.
GIF by welshhockeyfan
Last season with the Winnipeg Jets, Eric Fehr had a disaster season. Still feeling the effects of shoulder surgery, the big six-foot four-inch winger had two goals in 35 games. Winnipeg did not offer him a contract to come back.
His shoulder sure looks healthy now. During the second period of the Capitals match-up Sunday against New York, Fehr drove his shoulder into Anton Stralman’s chest, leveling him to the ice.
Fehr is riding a four-game point streak after assisting on John Carlson’s first period goal. The winger has three goals and three assists during that span.
Good signing, GMGM.
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