Alex Ovechkin plays center in the third day of training camp (video)
By Katie Carrera, Washington Post, Sept. 20, 2010:
As the Washington Capitals begin to get reacquainted with familiar linemates or adjust to new ones during training camp, there's a good chance of seeing things that might not happen much in the regular season. Say, for example, captain Alex Ovechkin temporarily filling in at center during Tuesday's scrimmage at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.
Down a center because Andrew Joudrey had a doctor's appointment, Team A rotated through playing the position, with even Ovechkin, a prolific scorer on the left wing, taking a few shifts in the middle.
"I was surprised when [assistant coach Dean Evason] told me, 'You're going to play in center,' " Ovechkin said. "I was like, 'Okay.' I won one faceoff, so I was happy, but I think I didn't play well in the defensive zone . . . so that was bad."
Team A (which also featured Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Knuble and Semyon Varlamov) defeated Team C (which included Mike Green, Jason Chimera and Eric Fehr), 6-3, in the session, with Ovechkin adding the final goal of the contest with a shot straight off the faceoff.
But on an earlier goal that broke a 3-3 stalemate, Ovechkin was in another unusual situation.
After a turnover at the blueline, defenseman Dylan Yeo scooped up the puck and rather than feed it to Ovechkin, who was waiting unobstructed back door, shot it himself. Yeo's shot beat goaltender Dany Sabourin for a 4-3 Team A lead.
"Dean [was] on the bench, I heard him say that was a good decision," Knuble said. "It takes [guts] to blow off Alex when he's sitting there ready to shoot the puck."
RT @bmcnally14: Mike Knuble on Dylan Yeo ignoring wide-open Ovechkin, scoring himself: "It takes balls to blow off Alex when he's ready to shoot the puck."
Willsie and Nycholat 5 years ago helped Ovi and Green make the transition to NHL.
Willsie: "It's funny, wherever I went people asked me about Ovechkin, guys like Rob Blake..."
Ovi, Knuble, Beagle, Perreault, Sloan and Bruce speak about the intensity of the scrimmages
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4 comments:
How did Ovie look in the game? Was he playing like his old self?
It looks like this time his pre-season training was not very good. He looks winded, like a lot of reporters commented on it... But this might be good, the main thing is to peak for playoffs...
I know the Caps need a second line center but come on! (j/k)
The old adage is true: it's not how you start, it's how you finish that matters. I don't mind if Ovie isn't in his best playing shape yet. What matters is building up strength and stamina and peaking in time for the playoffs as TJ said.
Ovie looked better today. His shots were more accurate (that always takes time to improve in the pre-season) and the game triggered his energy. He (almost) always finds another gear for games. Hopefully he can build stamina and reduce recovery time that will sustain him through June.
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