Note the extras from GoldenEye at top right. (Photo credit: dynamo.ru)

Monday was supposed to mark Alex Ovechkin‘s first meeting with 2012 first overall pick Nail Yakupov. When Dynamo Moscow hosted Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, Yakupov instead had to endure an international fiasco last week and was held out of the line-up by Coach Vladimir Golubovich despite being reinstated over the weekend.

Meanwhile, the Russian machine had his best game yet in a blue and white jersey, notching his second goal of the KHL season and tallying an assist in Dynamo’s 5-1 mollywhopping of Neftekhimik. Ovi had 5 shots in a season-low 14:44 ice time.

Video ahoy!

Here’s Ovechkin’s power play goal. Notice how effortlessly he targets his one-timer on the wattle bottle. With this much time and space in the NHL, I’m pretty sure he’d score ~183 goals.

On his assist, Ovechkin and Konstantin Gorovikov show off some slick passing before finding line-mate Dominik Granak in the slot for a goal.

Through five KHL games, Ovechkin is a point-per-game player, tallying two goals and three assists.

Yakupov and Ovechkin did eventually meet, but during intermission and away from the ice. Yakupov was giving an interview to Sovetsky Sport as Ovechkin slapped him on the back and asked, “How are you?”

“Everything’s fine,” Yakupov responded.

The 18-year-old Oilers prospect then turned to his interviewer and said: “Oh! He knows [why I'm not playing].”

Yakupov continued:

I hope to get a spot in the lineup for the next game. Because I really want to play! This is the second game I am missing. It’s a pity I didn’t get to play against Dynamo. It would be great to play with Ovechkin! But no big deal, it’s hockey. I am not upset with the coaches. I will catch up.

Ovechkin and Dynamo will next play Ak Bars on Wednesday.

GIF by welshhockeyfan.tumblr.com

Translation by Igor Kleyner.

“I deed it!! I finally score!!” (Photo credit: Dynamo Moscow)

Thursday night at Small Sports Arena in Luzhniki, Moscow, Alex Ovechkin returned to the Russian team that put him on the world’s stage as a teenager. And his performance did not disappoint.

In Moscow Dynamo’s 7-2 win over Dinamo Minsk, Ovechkin had seven shots, two big hits, and recorded his first ever KHL point, a powerplay assist, in 17:38 of ice time.

Highlights of the game are below the jump.

Ovechkin’s assist comes at the 9:06 mark. He also has a big hit at 9:20.

Ovi shoots. (Photo credit: Dynamo Moscow)

The defending champions’ new six-million dollar man started the game and was put on the first line with Mikhail Anisin (first video down) and Konstantin Gorovikov. After rifling two shots on net in the first period, Ovechkin was interviewed by Russia-2′s sideline reporter during intermission. When the reporter pointed out that the fans seemed to have trouble believing he was actually playing in Moscow again, Ovechkin beamed,”they’ll have to. I’m here.”

When Ovechkin came out for the second stanza, he seemed to settle down a bit. During an early period power play, Ovechkin set a screen in front of the net to allow Filip Novak to score. Later in the period, Ovechkin showed off his strength, casually laying out Libor Pivko at center ice to force a turnover.

In the third period, the great thirty-two finally got on the score-sheet. After spending most of the game set-up in front of the net on the power play, Dynamo head coach Oleg Znarok moved Ovechkin at the point. It immediately paid dividends. After Ovi fired a shot near the blue line, Dynamo’s Alexei Tsvetkov potted the rebound. The goal put Dynamo up 6-2. The white and blue would add one more in the final minutes to defeat Minsk 7-2.

Sunday, Dynamo will take the ice again and play SKA St. Petersburg. Ovi’s good friend, Ilya Kovalchuk, will suit up and his KHL debut for SKA that day.

Notes: Ovechkin led all Dynamo forwards in TOI (17:38) and was fourth among all Dynamo skaters. Ovechkin’s Dynamo jersey was sold at concession stands for $370.

Photo credit: Pavel Lysenkov