Big Hit

Small Victories: Alex Ovechkin Didn’t Score Against the Penguins, But He Did Check Sidney Crosby into the Net

On February 3, 2013, In Photos, By Ian Oland

Photo credit: Nick Wass

Almost four years ago to the day, Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby — at the height of their rivalry — nearly fought at the Capitals bench. After Ovechkin bumped Crosby on his way to a shift change, Sid shoved him in the back. The two exchanged pleasantries until Ovi ended the conversation by ripping Crosby’s helmet off. Between their heated races for the Calder and Maurice Richard trophies, it was the first time the two showed anger towards each other on the ice. It was glorious.

The rivalry has cooled since then. Ovechkin’s goal scoring has slowed with age. Crosby has dealt with injury.

But on Sunday, while the Penguins blew out the Capitals 6-3 and Crosby edged Ovechkin 3-1 in points, the Russian machine established dominance in his own way: checking Crosby into the net.

Alex Ovechkin Scores First Goal of the Season, Lands Big Hit on Tyler Myers

On January 27, 2013, In Photos, Video, By Ian Oland

In the first four games of the new season, Alex Ovechkin has struggled. He’s looked lost on the right wing and had trouble finding his role in Adam Oates’ new system. Before today’s matinee with the Buffalo Sabres, Ovi had one point, an assist. The Washington Capitals went 0-3-1 during that stretch.

That doesn’t mean Ovechkin hasn’t had his chances — especially in Oates’ 1-3-1 powerplay. After their game against New Jersey on Friday, Mike Green lamented to CSN sideline reporter Al Koken,”I missed [Ovi] on a pass that was about four or five inches out of his wheelhouse.” On Sunday, Green found Ovi with a beautiful cross-ice pass to give the Russian machine his first goal on the season. It would end up being the game-winner.

Video is below the jump.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Big Hit • GIF • Mike Green • Tyler Myers

Alex Ovechkin Destroys Cory Conacher With Big Open Ice Hit on Penalty Kill

On January 19, 2013, In Video, By Ian Oland

GIF by welshhockeyfan

During training camp, Washington Capitals head coach Adam Oates told the media that he would “absolutely” use Alex Ovechkin on the penalty kill. Well Saturday night, Oates stayed true to his promise, putting the Capitals captain out on the ice during the last 40 seconds of Tampa Bay’s first power play of the night.

Ovechkin used the time wisely, destroying Tampa Bay rookie Cory Conacher with a huge open ice hit after the former AHL MVP tried to maneuver around him.

Video is below the jump.

Tagged with: Adam Oates • Alex Ovechkin • Big Hit • Cory Conacher • GIF

Video: Alex Ovechkin and Marcus Johansson’s Brutal Collision

On January 15, 2013, In Video, By Ian Oland

Tuesday morning, the Washington Capitals scrimmaged the Reading Royals at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, winning in a nail biter by a score of 8-0. During the first period of the game, Alex Ovechkin and Marcus Johansson violently collided into one another. Since the game wasn’t broadcast online, we had to rely on tweets and blurry photos to try to imagine what happened. We all thought the worst.

Thankfully, both players ended up being okay, but after investigating CSN’s video of the hit, we don’t know how.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Big Hit • Marcus Johansson

Dmitry Orlov Hits Jay Rosehill, Nearly Sends Him Over the Boards

On December 2, 2012, In Hershey Bears, Video, By Ian Oland

Wheeee!!!!

While Dmitry Orlov is a defenseman who is known more for his offensive instincts, the 21-year-old Russian sure loves to hit too. Last season he crushed Blake Wheeler, Steve Downie, and Lars Eller all with devastating hip checks. And during Hershey’s second game of the season this year, he flipped a dude head over heels. Last night, during Teddy Bear Toss night at Giant Center, Orlov — apparently jealous of the fans — attempted to toss something over the boards too: Norfolk’s Jay Rosehill.

Tagged with: Big Hit • Dmitry Orlov • Hershey Bears • Jay Rosehill

Alex Ovechkin’s Big Hit on Severstal’s Nikolai Kazakovtsev

On November 27, 2012, In KHL, Photos, Video, By Ian Oland

Blame it on my birthday; blame it on turkey day. Last week, during Dynamo’s 4-2 loss to Severstal Cherepovets, I totally dropped the ball.

Alex Ovechkin did more than get the C stitched on his jersey, grab an assist, and complain ad nauseam about the zebras. He also had one of those thunderous body checks, the kind where you wonder how many of his 206 bones are made from Soviet steel.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Big Hit • Dynamo Moscow • GIF • KHL • Nikolai Kazakovtsev

GIFs of Alex Ovechkin Breaking Glass

On October 21, 2012, In GIF, KHL, By Ian Oland

Photo credit: atlant-mo.ru

During Alex Ovechkin‘s storied NHL career, he’s broken sticks, goal cameras, and faces. He’s also broken the glass with a hit more than once. Playing Colorado in 2006, Ovechkin nailed defenseman Karlis Skrastins with a shoulder check that exploded a pane of Pepsi Center glass. Ovechkin was pleased with himself, telling The Washington Post’s Tarik El-Bashir,”First time [to break glass] for me. I was surprised, like wow, I’m strong.”

Six years later, Ovechkin showed how mighty he is again, this time breaking a pain of glass after body-checking Alexei Mikhnov. Thanks to welshhockeyfan, here is a lovely assortment of GIFs.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Alexei Mikhnov • Big Hit

Matt Hendricks’ Huge Open-Ice Hit on Ryan McDonagh

On May 2, 2012, In GIF, Playoffs, Video, By Ian Oland

Matt Hendricks was in some kind of mood tonight. It’s already been the postseason of the grinders for the Washington Capitals, but Hendricks took that to a whole new level with 9 SOG and 10 hits, including one building-shaking crusher on Ryan McDonagh 4:20 into overtime. Video is below the jump.

Tagged with: Big Hit • Matt Hendricks • Ryan McDonagh

Alex Ovechkin Destroys Dennis Seidenberg With Open Ice Hit

On April 12, 2012, In GIF, Playoffs, Video, By Ian Oland

Five minutes into the second period of the Capitals’ first playoff game in Boston, Alex Ovechkin skated the puck into the neutral zone looking to make a play. As he did, Dennis Seidenberg made a decision he might regret.

The Bruins defenseman thought he could catch Ovi napping at the red line and destroy him with an open-ice body check. Instead, the Russian machine got his arms up and this happened.

Tagged with: Alex Ovechkin • Big Hit • Boston Bruins • Dennis Seidenberg • Washington Capitals

Video: Alex Semin’s Huge Open Ice Hit on Alex Burmistrov

On March 16, 2012, In Video, By Ian Oland

Video via Peter Robbio of Chirps From The Ledge.

Five minutes into a heavy-hitting first period between the Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets, Alex Semin did something very un-Semin like. Sasha Minor stepped up and caught fellow countryman Alex Burmistrov with an impressive open-ice hip check, nearly flipping the young Russian head-over-heels.

Tagged with: Alex Burmistrov • Alex Semin • Big Hit

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Russian Machine Never Breaks

Small Victories: Alex Ovechkin Didn’t Score Against the Penguins, But He Did Check Sidney Crosby into the Net

Alex Ovechkin Scores First Goal of the Season, Lands Big Hit on Tyler Myers

Alex Ovechkin Destroys Cory Conacher With Big Open Ice Hit on Penalty Kill

Video: Alex Ovechkin and Marcus Johansson’s Brutal Collision

Dmitry Orlov Hits Jay Rosehill, Nearly Sends Him Over the Boards

Alex Ovechkin’s Big Hit on Severstal’s Nikolai Kazakovtsev

GIFs of Alex Ovechkin Breaking Glass

Matt Hendricks’ Huge Open-Ice Hit on Ryan McDonagh

Alex Ovechkin Destroys Dennis Seidenberg With Open Ice Hit

Video: Alex Semin’s Huge Open Ice Hit on Alex Burmistrov

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