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Photo credit: dynamo.ru
No duh. Alex and Nicky have left Dynamo Moscow to return to North America.
From the Dynamo Moscow press release:
Today our team departed for Ufa without three forwards: Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Leo Komarov. Due to the end of the NHL lockout, these players departed for North America in accordance with their contracts.
Translated by Igor Kleyner.
hahahahaha, best friends)))))) (Photo credit: dynamo.ru)
While the NHL and NHLPA race to a January 11th deadline to save the season, we’re reminded how weird future Capitals/Hurricanes games are going to be once/if the lockout is lifted.
Alex Ovechkin and Dynamo Moscow took on former Capital Alex Semin and Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod on Friday. And in Ovi’s first game since getting engaged to Maria Kirilenko, the Russian machine tallied two points, including his 19th goal of the season, the game-winning tally. Dynamo would win 3-1.
Video of Ovechkin’s goal is below.
Photo credit: Dynamo.ru
Playing overseas may keep some NHL players in top form during the lockout but the dreams of their general managers are haunted by a nightmare scenario — a serious injury to a star player.
Last Wednesday, Nicklas Backstrom was involved in frightening episode, in which he was checked from behind while playing for Dynamo Moscow. Backstrom, who missed three months last season with a concussion, went headfirst into the boards and left the game after trying to play one more shift. Dynamo called the injury a “neck bruise” and said the pivot should be good to go by the next game. As of the weekend, Backstrom saw at least two doctors, and a Russian newspaper report speculated that Nicky had traveled to America due to the injury’s severity. According to Nicky’s Swedish agent, Gunnar Svensson, that’s not true.
GIF by welshhockeyfan
Don’t make Alex Ovechkin angry. The Montreal Canadiens learned this lesson a few years ago when Francis Bouillon bloodied the Russian machine and he responded by scoring four goals — including the overtime game-winner.
On Sunday, Ovechkin, perhaps peeved after seeing his 14-game point streak end and his BFF Nicky sidelined from a neck injury, took a rare “handling the puck with his hands” penalty during the second period. Then, from the penalty box, he watched CSKA Moscow score on the resulting power play. Ovechkin scored on his next shift. Quickly. Emphatically. Angrily.
As Konstantin Gorovikov hit Ovi with a pass, the Capitals captain skated towards CSKA’s net decisively, easily curling and dragging around Denis Denisov, and then scoring on Rastislav Stana while falling to the ice. Ovechkin’s celebration? HULK ROAR.
“Owwie!” (Photo credit: championat.com)
Almost one year ago to the day, Calgary Flames’ winger Rene Bourque elbowed Nicklas Backstrom in the side of the head, forcing the Capitals number-one center to the sidelines for three months with a concussion. The Capitals struggled in his absence, but 40 games later, after being magically healed by Tiesto, Backstrom returned for the playoff push and suffered no apparent setbacks.
On Wednesday, Backstrom fans got another scare when Nicklas took an awkward second period hit from Milan Kytnár during Dynamo’s 2-1 (SO) win over Slovan.
Photo credit: dynamo.ru
After a two-game road swing that saw Dynamo Moscow travel multiple time-zones away, Alex Ovechkin and the rest of his teammates returned home for the Christmas holiday and took on Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday.
The Russian machine, who hasn’t been held off the scoresheet since the late 80′s, scored yet again, tallying a powerplay goal in the first period. Ovechkin now has a 14-game point streak and one very happy girlfriend in a #32 jersey. Dynamo won via the gimmick, 2-1 (SO).
Now let’s see this goal.
One does not simply stop Nicklas Backstrom. (Photo credit: Metallurg Novokuznetsk).
After a few days of national team play and a new silver trophy for Ovi, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom returned to Dynamo Moscow to show off the chemistry that makes them one of the most dangerous duos on the planet. On Wednesday, Backstrom had two points and his brother from another mother had one goal in Dynamo’s 4-3 loss to Sibir.
On Friday, Dynamo was back at it again, this time facing Dmitry Orlov’s former team, Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Backstrom and Ovechkin both scored again, assisting on each other’s goals. Ovi finished with a goal and two assists. Backstrom scored the game-winning goal and notched two points. Dynamo won 4-2.
Video of their goals are below. And you’re going to want to see Ovechkin’s.
Bruce poses with his sons Ben and Andy. (Photo credit: ahclub.info)
With the NHL lockout forcing another cancellation of games– this time through January 14th, some hockey lifers are desperate to fill the hours. That’s why, at the end of last week, former Washington Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau did a telephone interview with the Asnières Castors — a hockey club based near Paris, France. Boudreau had good reason to call though: to show support to his 28-year-old son Ben, who is currently a forward for the team.
The Q/A is pretty pedestrian: Boudreau speaks about the lockout, Cristobal Huet, and his philosophy on coaching. Things get juicy, however, when Bruce is asked which of his former players he’d build a team around. He did not choose Alex Ovechkin.
Despite the Russian National Team beating out Team Sweden for the Channel One Cup, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom remain friends, as evidenced by this photo tweeted out by line-mate Leo Komarov. Sure, this embrace is not as epic as the bro hug the two shared when Backstrom first signed, but look at these guys. Tiiiiiiight for lyffffee.
“Russian Machine flex for the ladies.” (Photo credit: sportbox.ru)
On Sunday, Alex Ovechkin and the Russian National Team defeated Finland 3-1 to take the 2012 Channel One Cup. During the three-game tournament, Russia dominated, outscoring their opponents 14-2. Ovechkin, who mostly played on the team’s third line, had two points in three games — a goal and an assist. Team Sweden, who saw Nicklas Backstrom score three points and Marcus Johansson record his first national team goal and points, was the runner-up.
Below the jump, we have a few more photos from Russia’s post-game celebration.
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