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.

GIF by welshhockeyfan

In games six and seven, Ovechkin scored no points and recorded just six shots on goal.

Despite the injury, which will require only rest to heal, Alex Ovechkin played for his country at the World Championship in Helsinki. Despite scoring an goal and an assist in his only game with Team Russia, Ovechkin was eliminated from the tournament.

The injury reveals a sometimes-hidden truth. Shot-blocking, while considered a sign of commitment, is often dangerous or reckless move.  In order to stop a low-risk shot by Ryan McDonagh (whose lifetime shooting percentage is a lowly 5.2%), Ovechkin actually hurt his team by impairing the skating ability of its best player.

Not a good trade.

A few days ago, a funny GIF of Alex Ovechkin was passed around the internet, showing Ovi slumping his shoulders after some defensive breakdowns down low led to a lay-up goal by Stepan. Then Deadspin published an article titled Alexander Ovechkin Would Prefer Not To Play Defense, which Peter and Alan May debunked pretty thoroughly.

While no one is saying he’s Pavel Datsyuk, Ovechkin plays some hard defense when needed. Example: game six, when Ovi blocked a couple of shots in a short burst– laying his body down in the effort.

GIF by welshhockeyfan

Video

Via Fedor

You can tell he’s been practicing.

Alex Ovechkin has just about every part of his game pulled apart and scrutinized this season, from his leadership to his ice time to his physicality. His attitude has perhaps been criticized more than anything else– arguably with the least amount of basis, but Ovechkin has developed a reputation for not being a “team-first” player.

Dale Hunter’s new defensively-oriented system would not seem to be a great deal of fun for a player with his style and skillset, but to the surprise of some, Ovechkin has been a perfect soldier when questioned about what he thinks of it. “You have to suck it up and use time what Dale is giving to me,” Ovechkin said, in response to questions about his dwindling ice time. “It’s most important thing right now, guys, just win the series and win the game.”

We’ve seen the proof of commitment from every player on the roster, shot-blocking and sacrifice even from Ovechkin’s much-maligned countryman Alex Semin. On Monday night, it was Alex Ovechkin backchecking and going down to shot block without a moment of hesitation. The Caps’ captain took six shifts in the third period, and was not on ice for the last second game-tying goal.

Now that’s a buy-in.

Six minutes and twenty seconds into the Capitals nationally televised game against New York, the Rangers entered Washington’s zone with what looked to be a 2-on-1 break. That is until Alexander Semin busted his butt to get back. Sasha Minor, who normally shies away from blocking shots or any type of physicality for that matter, then dove face-first in front of a Brian Boyle slapshot and turned it away with his left wrist.

Video of the play is below the jump.

Video courtesy of VazorProduction.

Listen to the shock in Mike Emrick’s voice: “A diving block by Semin!”

Later in the second period, Semin added a goal, his 15th of the season. Since Dale Hunter has taken over as Head Coach of the Capitals, Semin has seen his production increase and his bad-sashaness decrease. In 30 games under Hunter, Semin has taken only 7 penalties (4 in December, 2 in January, 1 in February) and registered 23 points, nearly a point per game pace. In 21 games with Bruce Boudreau, Semin was whistled to the box 16 times and had only 10 points. So while the team’s puck possession and goal scoring is down under Hunter, at least one of the team’s stars has seen his play improve mightily.

Maybe Sasha likes Dale Hunter. Maybe Sasha wants to be re-signed another year. Or maybe, Sasha just wants to say he’s sorry.

Video via the Caps blog Poke Czech.