Monday, May 30, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Ovechkin at Sasha Vorobej's party
H/t to BobbyG.
Ovi at Sasha Vorobey's party, May 19, 2011. Who is Sasha Vorobey? Russian radio station host, DJ, etc. Vorobey means sparrow, and Ovechkin means oveja as we all know. :-)
Here we go... We've got goose, sparrow and little lamb all together...
Goose(Gusev) and his girlfriend with Ovi
Source: http://www.vklybe.tv/index.php?o=pic&img_id=422089
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Thursday, May 26, 2011
Iron Vic: Bill will be the next team Russia's Coach
After Bykov and Zakharkin have been dismissed, Life.ru interviewed legendary Victor Tikhonov, a Russian version of Iron Mike. :-)
As coach he won (Wikipedia):
Tikhonov was known for his dictatorial coaching style. He exercised nearly absolute control over his players' lives. His teams practiced for 10 to 11 months a year, and were confined to barracks throughout that time.
- 13 straight Soviet titles (1978–1989)
- World Championship gold in 1978–1979, 1981–1983,1986,1989,1990.
- Olympics gold of 1984,1988,1992.
- 1979 Challenge Cup and 1981 Canada Cup.
An offer you can't refuse (Soviet style)
"The next coach will be Zinetula Bilyaletdinov," said Viktor Tikhonov. "I proposed his candidacy last year. He is actually Dynamo's alumni, but I know him well. He was in the national team for 6 years." [Tikhonov coached CSKA Moscow, before that Riga's Dynamo - tj]You can listen to audio interview in Russian with Tikhonov here ( http://www.lifesports.ru/news/59567 )
Did anyone actually started negotiations with Bilyaletdinov?
Tikhonov: Yes, the negotiations have already started. Even if one of the leaders of the [Russian Hockey] Federation will oppose to it, the issue will be resolved at the government level.
Just like how it happened to me. I was called [to the top] and offered to move to Moscow [from Riga] and I refused first time. When they called me second time they simply told me 'do not refuse this time [or else]'."
Ovechkin about Bilyaletdinov (excerpt from his interview he gave in 2008):
Who of your coaches had the toughest monstrous workout program?
Krikunov. Maybe another one was Bilyaletdinov. What I saw in America, their workout regimens were not even close. That's why I never had any problems in Washington's pre-season training camp.
Wikipedia (English and Russian versions) about Coach Bill:
Zinetula "Bill" Khaidarovich Bilyaletdinov is a former Russian ice hockey player of Tatar roots, who competed for the USSR.
In 1973-1988 he competed for HC Dynamo Moscow.
In 1993—1997 worked for Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, Chicago Black Hawks. One of the first Russian coaches who worked in the NHL.
In 1997—2000, 2002—2004 was a Head Coach of HC Dynamo Moscow.
In 2001-2002 coached Hockey Club Lugano in Switzerland.
Won the Russian Championship in season 2005-06 and consequtive European Champions Cup-2007, as well as the history's first KHL Gagarin Cup as a head coach for Ak Bars Kazan.
Also Life.ru somehow interviewed Sasha (no details when and how it happened):
Alexander Semin calmly reacted to the sacking of national team coaches Vyacheslav Bykov and Igor Zakharkin.
"Frankly I don't care," said 27-year-old forward. "My job is to play hockey, not to discuss the fate of the dismissed coaches and my attitude to what has happened."
Update:
More clue on 'an offer you can't refuse' from Sobesednik.ru:
One of the main reasons Bykov and Zakharkin have failed was coaching of KHL's hockey club at the same time as the national team. As a result of two part-time jobs the preparation for the tournament was crumpled.(Source: http://www.sobesednik.ru/sport/izgnanie-bykova-i-zakharkina):
But looking at the candidates for coaching the national team one can say that this problem will remain. Zinetula Bilyaletdinov is working with HC "Ak Bars" for seven years and he won't leave voluntarily. Oleg Znarok is cherished in Dynamo, and Milos Rzhiga was just appointed as a head coach of the St. Petersburg SKA. And that's it, the list of Bykov's real successors ends...
"Why was he fired then?" would ask a sports fan, who doesn't follow hockey closely. Indeed, why change one part-time Coach to another? But it is obvious that the last word was left to the one whose name was used by Bykov immediately after the failure of the 2011 World Cup.
It would seem that support of the main fan was supposed to guarantee Bykov and Zakharkin peaceful future. But he decided to go other way firing Coaches by the means of RHF.
The Ak Bars management, of course, can resist and will not release the most successful coach in their history. But then they will get the answer from the top; paraphrasing the words from a famous movie, "if you won't let him go, we'll turn off the oil."
So the name of the new head coach of team of Russia is in fact very clear already. The only question is how soon in Tatarstan [where Ak Bars is - tj] they will understand the seriousness of the situation ...
You can ask who is the person sobesednik.ru is even afraid to mention? My guess is: Vladimir Putin.
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Sunday, May 22, 2011
Ovechkin at the boxing match
Alex went to a boxing match (Denis Lebedev vs. Roy Jones Jr.) yesterday in Moscow. 31 years old Lebedev knocked out 42 years old Roy Jones in the 10th round.
You can see Alex behind famous Russian filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov.
Photo by Vladimir Velegurin, KP.RU
Photo Sovetsky Sport
Reporting live from internet, this is Emily.
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Saturday, May 21, 2011
Alex Semin in a friendly game in Krasnoyarsk (update)
Фото: KP.RU-Красноярск
KRASNOYARSK, May 21, 2011 - RIA Novosti, Svetlana Bel'kovich.
Alexander Semin, the 2008 World Champion and the Washington Capitals forward, played for All-Stars team vs. local hockey club Sokol (Falcon) in a friendly game devoted to the closing of the hockey season in Krasnoyarsk.
The game was played Saturday at the "Torch" ice arena and ended with the score 7:6 in favor of the All-Stars. Maxim Galanov, former NHL defenseman for New York, Pittsburgh and Atlanta, also played with Alex Semin, as well as director of Sokol hockey club Dennis Lugovik, some Krasnoyarsk businessmen and hockey fans.
All-Stars led the game 5:1, then Sokol was able to come back, but in the end All-Stars team won. Semin scored the second and sixth goal against his hometown club. The stands were completely filled with fans and nearly half of them were wearing Washington Capitals jerseys. After the game Washington's forward took part in an autograph session.
krsk.sibnovosti.ru
Semin told RIA Novosti that he was "pleased with the game." "You can't to play a friendly game at full strength, but you can't simply skate around either," explained the hockey player. Answering the question why he played against his hometown club, Semin said he didn't choose who to play for. "It was not my decision," added the athlete.
"Sasha scored very beautiful and powerful goal from the blue line to the top corner. The shot was so powerful that the puck went through the mesh. But everyone saw that it was a goal. What can you say, it was awesome," shared his impression of the game Sokol's director of Media Relations Sergei Kuzavkov.
"Sokol's hockey players, in spite of losing the game, were very satisfied with the game and left the ice in a good mood. "You can absolutely understand the guys. For many of them it was the first time to play against the stars of such level. Both Semin and Galanov are pros and to play against the two was a good school and a good hockey clinic," summed up the friendly game Kuzavkov.
Update:
Semin after the friendly game
You can watch video here http://www.lifesports.ru/news/59188
On that video they asked Semin if he talked to Ovi, and Sasha answered, "Not yet".
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Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Alex Ovechkin is 23rd most marketable athlete in the world
According to SportsPro (May 17, 2011), Alex Ovechkin is 23rd most marketable athlete in the world.
1. Usain Bolt
2. LeBron James
3. Cristiano Ronaldo
4. Lionel Messi
5. Lewis Hamilton
...
22. Maria Sharapova
23. Alexander Ovechkin
...
27. Sidney Crosby
And here's the link to Russian Gillette web site (h/t to EmilyB: "Repping that silly Swedish hat!")
Here's the translation from Russian:
Millions of men around the world rely on every day care with Gillette, and Alexander Ovechkin is the face of Gillette, the living proof that even brutally looking strong man can look good and take care of his style and appearance.
The participants in this phase of the competition should upload their best photos, and thus demonstrate that the phrase "real man should be a little more handsome than monkey" is completely untrue!
LOL.
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Monday, May 16, 2011
Ovechkin lands in Moscow
Photo Life.ru
Upon return the players refused to give any interviews. Life.ru woman tried to talk to Ovechkin when he was going into the bus...
Alexander, can I ask you a question?
Ovechkin: About what? About how we spent time at the restaurant?
No, about the World Cup and why team Russia couldn't do anything after a great game vs. Canada?
Ovechkin: I couldn't do it (Ya ne smog)
That was the end of the interview.
Ovechkin's Dad said more. He was interviewed while he was waiting for his son. He said that the team didn't have enough of the team's spirit and that hockey gods turned away for the second year in a row.
He also hinted about the team management, he said that a lot depends on the Coaches, but didn't go too far...
He said in the last game Ovi was all over the place, but his partners didn't follow. "He would give a pass to another player for give and go, would open up, but wouldn't receive a puck back. You can't outplay 5 opposite players alone."
At the end he said that there was nothing tragic about the 4th place. "They lost, so what. The most important thing now is to prepare for Sochi Olympics".
Barry Smith, former head coach of St. Petersburg and former assistant coach of Detroit (via Sport-Express):
I honestly did not get why Ovechkin came to Bratislava. It seems to me that Alex, even after he got to the tournament, was only thinking about the missed opportunity at the Stanley Cup playoffs.
I have closely followed the NHL this season and I know what a great success was predicted for Washington in the playoffs. A sweep in the series vs Tampa was for the Capitals, and especially for the lead players of the club, a heaviest psychological blow.
These numbers (0:4) were in the head of Ovechkin, who arrived to Slovakia. There was the feeling that with the loss in playoffs Ovechkin was not ready to fight for the gold at the World Cup.
History has been made:
Team Russia had set their personal record, 5 losses in one IIHF tournament. Alex followed, for the first time ever in his career he finished a tournament with 0 points. Ouch!
But I think it's all good for Alex. If you are not ready, say it next time. Time to set priorities straight and hopefully he will find another very good fitness trainer this summer.
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Friday, May 13, 2011
Russia loses to Finland 0:3, will play for the Bronze
Alex Ovechkin after the loss to Finland (Championat.ru):
"I was trying, but it didn't work though I felt good and strong. There were a lot of scoring chances, we could score. Now we have to cough it up. Don't critise the guys, it does not make any sense."
Well, it was clear that Ovi was not ready to go to a 3rd rate World Cup and even to beat a 3rd rate team Canada. He was empty emotionally after the loss to Tampa Bay. Finally he got the priorities straight on what is more important for him to achieve.
On the other hand... it was nice for Russians to beat Canada again... hehehe It's all that matters to Russians since 1972... You can lose to US, Finland, Arab Emirates, it is not a big deal, but you can't lose to Canada, that's a national tragedy...
In fact (and sadly) it might save Bykov's job as a Head Coach of team Russia.
Ovi to RIA Novosti:
We did not seize the moments that we created, and the first goal by Finns... I think it is one of the best ever goals that could happen in hockey. They had skill and luck, it was all in one pile for them. We had no luck on our side. The scoring chances were good, but we couldn't put the puck in the net. We have a game ahead for the third place. It doesn't matter who is the opponent. If Czechs then it's Czechs. We just have to go out and win at least some kind of medal..."
I think it was a better goal than "the goal"...
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Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Ovechkin plays goalie
Instead of the morning skate team Russia decided to play soccer at the "Rapid" stadium in Bratislava. Pavel Lysenkov of Sovetsky Sport visited the training and here are some pictures:
Looks like Ovi has already lost some weight in preparation for the next season. :-)
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Ovechkin pledged to change his training regiment
Ted Leonsis was on "The Mike Wise Show" on 106.7 The Fan and said that Alex Ovechkin called him before heading to Bratislava. Ovechkin apologized for his performance, admitted that his pre-season training didn't work out as in previous seasons and "pledged to change his training regiment", reports Mike Prada, the senior editor of SB Nation D.C.
Ted Leonsis via Capitals Insider:
Alex on his way to the airport called me and said, "I’m just calling to thank you for what you’re doing for us and I apologize. What I’m doing isn’t working. I have this offseason and I’ll try a different training regiment and I hope to come in in better shape and do better. I’m going to watch a lot of film and I don’t like this feeling. I think we’re better than our playoff performance is."
Well, it would be very interesting who Ovechkin will choose to work with this summer on his fitness. Next season he will be 26 years old and it will be probably the last season when he could beat his own scoring record of 65 goals in 2007-08 season.
Most goals scored in one NHL season:
Hull 90/91 - 86 goals age 26 Fedorov 93/94 - 56 goals age 24 Yzerman 88/89 - 65 goals age 23 Lemieux 88/89 - 85 goals age 23 Selanne 92/93 - 76 goals age 22 Lindros 95/96 - 47 goals age 22 Bure 93/94 - 60 goals age 22 Gretzky 81/82 - 92 goals age 20
As you can see in this list Hull was the oldest player at the age of 26 to set his personal record of 86 goals in one season.
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Monday, May 9, 2011
Ovechkin misses a chance on a breakaway vs Finland
Ovi misses the chance on a breakaway vs Finland and looks exhausted, like "fish out of the water" afterwards.
Ovechkin answers to "what went wrong" on a breakaway after the game(Sport-Express):
I made a wrong decision, should've shoot instead. But it's not that important, what is that I felt much better today and was creating scoring chances. I had chances and that's what is the most important thing for me.
Photo Reuters
Finland won on shootouts and Russia dropped to a forth place in Group E.
Next game is vs Canada (May 12th), that's gonna be fun, no matter who will win. No excuses for Ovi in the next game because of a jet lag. Hope Artyukhin would be as good against Canucks as vs Euros. :-)
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Pavol Demitra says goodbye :-(
This is not about Ovi, this is about our Slovak team and I would like to share this with you. You maybe know that our team was defeated and this championship ends for us, but this video is about saying goodbye to fans, championship and a big goodbye from our captain - Pavol Demitra ( I think you know him, he´s a great player) I would be very lucky if you watch this video (is in Czech language, but language isn´t important, important are those emotions and reaction from fans). I think it´s great.
Live from Slovak Republic, this is Andrea Kováčová.
Thank you Pavol and thank you, Andie!
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Sunday, May 8, 2011
Czech Republic 3, Russia 2
Pavel Lysenkov (SovSport.ru, May 8, 2011) interviewed Alexander Ovechkin after the game:
Alex Ovechkin: It was hard for me in the first period, too many penalties take you out of the rhythm. But then I started skating better and felt fine.
Can you rate Eugene Artyukhin?
He was awesome. No comments, you've seen it yourself.
Did Barulin's game pleasantly surprise you?
Yes, he made several excellent saves. And played well overall.
How comfortable do you feel on the third line with Kaygorodov and Afinogenov?
We only started to get used to each other. We were thrown into battle immediately and we had a few moments. But then again, penalties crumpled game.
Was the fact that Russia has already advanced to the quarterfinals too relaxing?
It's hard to say. We went out to play and win. But somewhere we were out of luck.
So what Artyukhin did? He played very physical and rough and Czech's head coach Alois Gadamchik was mad at him afterwards...
AP:
Two Czech players -- forward Milan Michalek and defender Karel Rachunek -- left the game and didn't return after taking big hits from Russian forward Yevgeni Artyukhin in the second period.To me the hit was clean, no elbow or anything illegal, Artyukhin is just too big (height: 6'4", weight: 255). Even Zdeno Chara would probably feel it.
Rachunek was bleeding from his head but Artyukhin escaped without a penalty for that check.
"It wasn't a pretty game," Jagr said. "There were a lot of penalties and power plays."
Jakub Voracek, Jaromir Jagr and Tomas Plekanec scored for the Czech Republic as Ovechkin couldn't help Russia avenge a 2-1 loss to the Czechs in the final of last year's worlds.
Alexei Tereshenko and Danis Zaripov scored for Russia.
Ovi's first morning skate with the team right off the plane. Artyukhin is saying that Ovechkin's arrival definitely raised the team's mood. "Of course it's hard for him because of the jet lag and no time acclimate..."
Link to the latest post
Saturday, May 7, 2011
It's Sobota in Bratislava
Let's start first with our Slovak reporter Andrea Kováčová, who sent us her translation of the article and photos from "Plus Jeden Deň", May 7, 2011, "Ovechkin will come hurt" :
He wants to play for his country
This Russian hockey player confessed that he player with injuries in NHL play offs. „I have some of them. But that´s it, I get hurt, everybody gets hurt,“ explained Ovechkin, who has problems with knee for example as well. But when Vladislav Tretiak called him about his coming to Championship, he didn´t hesitate. „He asked me if I had come and I said yes. I will play for my country and try to win a gold,“ said a Russian, who could play his first game in Championship tomorrow at 16.15 (4.15 pm) against Czech republic.
This translation by Andrea is from Hokej.Pravda, May 7, 2011, "Ovečkin pricestoval do Bratislavy, zahrá si proti Česku"
25-year old player appeared in Bratislava´s Orange Stadium before 10 am this Saturday. He went to locker room where he probably is preparing for afternoon practise. Russians go forward to quarterfinal and Ovechkin will play against Czechs tomorrow.
He is preparing during practice with Maxim Afinogenov and Konstantin Gorovnikov. "I practiced with them normally," said world´s star and about arrival to Slovakia."The flight was long. I feel good so far, I don´t want to go sleep. When I saw boys that has energized me. I want to play agaist Czechs. The major goal of this day is to accustom to local time."
Russian ice hockey forward Alexander Ovechkin (right) during a workout at the 75th 2011 IIHF World Championship in Bratislava.
Great job, Andrea, and we love your Slovak accent! :-) We are looking forward to new reports.
Now to our field reporter Emily B. who provided us with all the links.
Stanislav Gushcha, Sportbox.ru, May 7, 2011:
How do you feel?
I feel fine. So far I don't feel sleepy. We'll see [if I will feel jet lag] in the evening.
Are you in a better mood now, joining the team?
Of course. The flight was very long. Now I have to once again get in shape.
How do you feel playing on a line with Maxim Afinogenov and Konstantin Gorovikov?
It's okay. So far, so good.
Were the series against Tampa very tough?
Yes. It is always difficult to lose. But now I'm here with the team.
What do you think about the upcoming game against the Czechs?
I don't think about it. So far I have to wake up first.
Czechs are the world champions. Will you have a special adjustment for them?
So far I haven't thought about it, we have 24 hours before the game starts. We'll do adjustments when it wil;l get closer.
Irina Khryaeva, allhockey.ru, May 7, 2011, "Ovechkin's day":
Team Russia had a one hour morning skate and the main star there was of course Alexander Ovechkin. Ovechkin just arrived today from the United States to Vienna, and from there drove to Bratislava. And almost without a break he went to the morning skate. You could tell that he was very tired.
iihf.com, "Circus Ovi has begun":
Alexander Ovechkin answers questions to journalists following his first practice with the Russian national team. Photo: Matthew Manor / HHOF-IIHF Images
BRATISLAVA – One of the world’s finest players has arrived in Bratislava.
Alexander Ovechkin landed in Vienna on Saturday morning after getting green light from the Washington Capitals on Friday.
At noon the 25-year-old, two-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner entered the ice for his first practice with the Russian national team at Bratislava’s Orange Arena before facing a huge crowd of journalists in the mixed zone.
“It was a shock,” Ovechkin said about the Capitals’ loss in round two of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning. “I think we didn’t deserve being defeated in four games. Several players played with injuries, not only me. But we showed character and wouldn’t surrender,” the Capitals star added, “but now I feel fine again and I am ready to go.”
His full focus is now on representing his nation and winning the 2011 IIHF World Championship with Russia.
Ovi entered the ice with lot of motivation. He even broke Konstantin Barulin’s mask when firing shots at the goalkeeper.
More reading from Swedish blog by Marie Hallman...
Reported live from internet, this is Emily.
H/t BobbyG for more Ovi's pics link...
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Friday, May 6, 2011
Ovechkin: I get hurt, but everybody gets hurt
May 5, 2011.
For the most part almost everything was already published, but it is interesting to watch subtle details of the interview. Here Ovi is completely surprised by Tarik's question about knee injury and denies it. I believe him, just by the tone of the voice, I believe him, otherwise he should win an Oscar. :-)
Ovi: "It was something I had for almost two months..."
That's gotta be a wrist injury.
Malamud: Upper body, lower body, any body?
Ovi to Malamud: "Слава, ну ты как всегда, е мое" (Slava, you are as usual) :-)
Ovi: "I am gonna go back to my old old coach when I was 15 or 16..."
Ovechkin started playing for Moscow Dynamo in 2001-2002 season when he was 15 or 16 years old. The head Coach of Dynamo at that time was Vladimir Semyonov. But I think Ovi is talking about Zinetula Bilyaletdinov who left Dynamo to coach in Switzerland just a year before. Or it could be Vladimir Krikunov.
Here's an excerpt from his interview he gave in 2008:
Who of your coaches had the toughest monstrous workout program?Well, he did at the beginning of this season.
Krikunov. Maybe another one was Bilyaletdinov. What I saw in America, their workout regimens are not even close. That's why I never had any problems in Washington's pre-season training camp.
Link to the latest post
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Ovechkin will land in Slovakia Saturday
Ovi gave a short interview to Russian TV station "Rossiya-2".
Here's what actually happened.
Ovi texted to his best friend Russian defenseman Ilya Nikulin and joked if they had a berth for him to sleep (this is where Ovi is smiling in video). After that Ilya called him, they talked and Ovi asked Tretiak and Bykov to call him via Ilya, because Ovi didn't know what to do, should he go on vacation or fly to World Cup in Slovakia.
Ovechkin:
I haven't followed the national team because I was concentrating on playoffs.
[Russians already lost to Germans and could be eliminated soon too].
Hopefully my mood will change when I join the [national] team as well as the national team's mood too. We are going, I'm flying to help the team. We have a good team, the backbone of the team is the same. That's all [I can say].
Tarik El-Bashir and Dan Steinberg on Ovechkin's exit interview answers:
Via CSN Washington, when asked about playing for Russia in the IIHF World Championships, Ovechkin said he will indeed play.
"Yea, I talked to President Tretiak, he asked me if I'm going and I said yes," he said.
"I don't want to go there but I will. I want to play in the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup but the situation is the situation. I'm going to play for my country and try to win gold."
via Sport-Express.ru:
Under the personal supervision of Tretiak the issue with visa and insurance for Ovechkin were solved. CEO of RHF Valery Fesyuk had a phone conversation at 7:30 PM Bratislava time with Ovechkin's agent who reported that Ovechkin flight would land in Vienna, located just 50 kilometers from the Slovak capital, early Saturday morning. The bosses of the Russian hockey Federation immediately ordered via the organizing committee of the World Cup the best car to meet the famous forward.
...hmmm... Who would be Ovechkin's agent? Sergey Kocharov?
Also Russian coaches talked to Semin and told him that the decision about him would be done after the results of Red Wings -Sharks playoff series. If Red Wings will be eliminated, Datsyuk will be the number 1 candidate, if not, Semin will fly to Bratislava as well.
Link to the latest post
Ovechkin talks about his fitness coach and injuries
Via Capitals Insider, Katie Carrera, May 5, 2011.
Alex Ovechkin said most of the time he was hurt during this season. As usual he refused to comment what kind of injury he had. "I can’t say that," he said. "Again, it was something that was what I have almost two months. I play with it and I miss a couple games just for recovery. I think, again, the trainers do unbelievable job; they put me back in the game so I’m standing here, I’m healthy, I’m happy."
Both Katie and Tarik speculated that the injury was
... a nagging knee injury that required minor surgery and forced him to miss three games in March.I don't know where they got it from and they wouldn't say.
But Ovi kind of admitted that his pre-season training was messed up (his fitness coach Dmitri Kapitonov moved to St. Petersburg where he along with his brother was hired by St. Petersburg's SKA.)
Ovechkin:
I’m going to think about whatever I’m going to do in the summer. Maybe I’m gonna go back to my old, old coach when I was 15, 16. We’re going to see.
I’m at a time where I want to be better and better. So, I don’t want to stop finding the right way to be better. Probably [for] next year I’m going to talk to him, I’m going to call him. I’m going to talk to him and ask can I practice with them, can I be with them, because he’s probably going to be busy, too… It’s going to be new for me because I don’t want to stop. I want to keep growing up like a player, like a person too.
I think all year I just want to be ready for the playoffs and I was starting like in the middle [of] my shape and I get better for the end of the year. I feel pretty good about myself in playoffs the last months before playoffs. I don’t know if I’m going to do the same next year, but again it’s something to think about.
Boudreau:
[About team's leadership]
Alex showed great leadership in the last two games, he was the best player.
[On Ovechkin's injuries]
He had a couple things, I don't want to say much, but that was way more serious than you would think, that's why he didn't practice much.
Picture of Ovi surrounded by reporters...
Link to the latest post
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.
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.Source: SovSport.ru
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.
Link to the latest post
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Caps are on the brink of a sweep
Ovi was awesome in the second period, but the team didn't follow him. Boudreau's trap was inferior to Boucher's and Caps went down hard.
Caps are now down 3:0 in the series... Like I said about Tampa when they defeated Caps in the regular season game in January, "Tampa will go deep in playoffs because they are built for playoffs, no question about it...." I was hoping it wouldn't be at Caps expense... :-(
Sure, Caps can win 4 games in a row, but not against the trap team like Tampa Bays is. "Screwed" is the right word. "There's always a next season," is another expression... haha :-( A lot of questions will have to be answered after and BB might have to go... Sad...
Ovechkin's stats:
After the 1st:
Total ice time 06:12, 9 shifts, average 00:41, PP 00:35, even 05:37, missed shots 1, 2 hits, 1 blocked shot, 2 faceoffs won.
After 2nd:
1 goal, 1 assist, +1, total ice time 14:30, 18 shifts, average 00:48, PP 02:41, even 11:47, 4 shots on goal, 1 attempt blocked, 2 missed, 4 hits, 1 giveaway, 1 shot blocked, 2 faceoffs won.
Final:
1 goal, 1 assist, total ice time 24:27, 27 shifts, average 00:54, PP 03:51, even 20:34, 5 shots on goal, 3 attempts blocked, 2 missed, 4 hits, 4 giveaways, 1 shot blocked, 2 faceoffs won.
Caps locker room
Link to the latest post
Ovechkin: We just need to win one game
Alright. I am back, Caps are down 0:2, but tonight they will start their comeback. And you just need to win one game. One game and the series are 1:2 all of a sudden. When a trap team plays at home, they tend to loosen up a bit, and I hope this is what will happen. Just like on Feb. 4 of this year when Caps beat Tampa 5:2.
And look who is rooting for Caps! How you cannot win with such fans? :-)
Wolf Blitzer on when he heard about Osama bin Laden:
You know, it was really a weird situation for me last night. I was home. I was watching the Washington Capitals in the third period. Ovechkin had just tied the game 2 to 2 against Tampa Bay. And as a Washington Capitals fan, I was excited, looking forward to the overtime, when I got a call, it was around 9:40 PM Eastern from Sam Feist, who's our political director, senior executive producer. They had just received -- CNN's the network pool, and CNN had just received notification from Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, that the president would be in the East Room of the White House at 10:30 to make about a 10-minute statement.
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