What a shame!

Caps had everything to go deep, unfortunately they were beaten by a team that was coached better, by a trap specialist Guy Boucher. Like I said before, Coach Boudreau had never played trap, never coached trap, he didn't have assistant coaches that could help him, like Barry Smith in Detroit who helped Scotty Bowman with left wing lock defensive system.

I suggested in the middle of the season (but, of course, who would listen :-) to hire Ken Hitchcock as a trap consultant. So if Bruce Boudreau will stay, I would still suggest to GMGM to get an assistant coach/consultant/defensive specialist for him (nobody would listen, but at least I can quote myself :-)

And who beat Ovechkin & Co. again? Stevie Y, just like in Vancouver where he hired Mike Babcock, a trap specialist. Stevie learned a lesson about trap long time ago, in 1995, when "the Red Wings made it to the Stanley Cup Finals but were swept by the New Jersey Devils in four straight."

What can be said about Bruce Boudreau? He is a players coach and you know what it means. He can't push players hard enough sometimes. 'NHL on a fly' commentators said the Caps had too many passengers... again...

Ovi didn't score, still had a great game 4, but you can't win it along. :-(

Ovechkin's stats after the 1st period:

1 assist, 2 min penalty, total ice time 07:35, 8 shifts, average 00:56, PP 02:28, even 05:05, 3 shots on goal, 3 attempts blocked, 2 missed, 1 hit.

After 2nd:

1 assist, 2 min penalty, total ice time 12:59, 16 shifts, average 00:48, PP 02:28, even 10:29, 3 shots on goal, 6 attempts blocked, 3 missed, 2 hits, 1 giveaway.

Final:

1 assist, 2 min penalty, +1, total ice time 25:05, 24 shifts, average 01:02, PP 03:48, even 21:15, 5 shots on goal, 8 attempts blocked, 5 missed, 3 hits, 1 giveaway.

How long people called Stevie Y. a loser before he won his fist Stanley Cup? I guess you have to be humiliated that much to bounce back and succeed.

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According to Russian newspapers, Ovechkin has already talked to Bykov and president of RHF Vladislav Tretiak. According to one version Ovechkin was the first to call Tretiak in Bratislava.

A well-informed source of "Gazeta.Ru" confirmed that communication actually took place and the Russian forward has agreed to help the team at the World Championship. Gazeta.Ru also learned that Alexander Semin was not invited yet.

Read more: http://www.gazeta.ru/sport/2011/05/a_3604909.shtml

If Red Wings will lose the playoffs, Datsyuk will be invited instead of Semin. Semyon Varlamov most likely won't be invited at all.

If Russians will keep those Coaches for Sochi-2014, they will be destroyed by Canada again.

Update:
Tretiak:

"We've already called Ovechkin. We talked to him the game, he sleeps now. But he agreed to play for the national team. Well, we advised him to hurry up and buy a ticket. Tomorrow they will have team meeting in Washington. And a day after tomorrow I hope Ovechkin already will be here.

Why did you invite Ovechkin and not both Ovechkin and Semin?
So far we have decided to call only Ovechkin.

Do you keep a second room that is allowed to add to a roster for Pavel Datsyuk, whose team is losing in the series 0-3?
This is up to the coaches. So far we invited to the tournament only Ovechkin.

Source: SovSport.ru

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