Ovie Is Okie

It was a scary sight for Capitals fans as Alex Ovechkin was left lying on his back after taking a hard shoulder-first slide into the boards on Tuesday night.

The incident occurred late in the second frame when Ovechkin and Bruins d-man Zdeno Chara were chasing after a loose puck, when Ovie lost his balance while trying to get around Chara and then slid into the end boards.

Caps training staff immediately came to the aid of Ovechkin, but after a few seconds he got up and went to the locker room. He would miss the rest of the second period but did return for the third.

News comes today from the Washington Post that there's nothing to worry about and that Ovechkin is as healthy as an Ox. Healthier than an ox? No, that's just ridiculous.

"It was just a hockey moment -- it is OK," Ovechkin told the Post.

Bruce Boudreau, head coach of the Caps also tried to downplay the accident, saying to NHL.com, "As far as I know, he's OK. He's a pretty tough kid."

So to recap, Alex Ovechkin slams into the boards shoulder-first, an incident that would have separated the shoulders of most, but he doesn't have to leave the game, is not injured, and won't miss anytime at all. Has anybody checked to make sure that Ovechkin isn't actually some sort of Russian super robot? Because I'm beginning to have my doubts.

[Source]

Fighting Like Girls

Over the weekend there were two pretty embarassing fights in the NHL. And my apolgoies in advance for comparing these fights to how girls fight in the headline. Because I bet most girls have been in better fights than these two.

First off we have Sidney Crosby, or as we shall start referring to him, "Sucker Punch Sidney." Sucker punching guys seems to be Crosby's thing as of late. First we had the crotch punching incident, and now this "fight" against Brett McLean of the Florida Panthers.

After the game, McLean's teammate Nick Boynton said what we're all thinking...

"That was just embarrassing. I can understand a little bit what he was trying to do, but that's a not a very professional move. You ask a guy to fight. You don't jump a guy when his head is down taking a faceoff. That's pretty immature and childish. He's just, whatever. He's not happy with the way things are going and he was trying to get his team going. But there's no need for that.''

Now if you think that fight was pretty pathetic, hold on to your hats because here comes this gem from Alexander Semin of the Washington Capitals.

Some are comparing this fight to a bongo player banging away on the drums, while others think it's a lot like Ralphie fighting Scut Farkas from A Christmas Story. If you ask me, it looks like Semin applied the ol' coming at you like a spider monkey routine.

Notable Quotable of the Day

"Here, Americans not care about what they were. In Moscow, is more high fashion. Russian girls more beautiful than American girls, too."

- Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin on just some of the differences between America and Russia in the latest edition of Maxim magazine.

Alex The Amazing

Alex Ovechkin scored an amazing goal against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night. But you know what, it was Boxing Day and you might have missed it. Because instead of being a good hockey fan and watching the game, you were probably out waiting in line to get a great deal on that toaster you've had your eye on. And you know what, I don't blame you. It toasts 8 slices of bread at once! Technology is a beautiful thing.

So for those of you who did miss it, or for those of you who want to see it again, I bring you Ovie's goal of the year candidate against the Sabres.

Let me tee it up for you. Ovechkin intercepts a pass in the Caps defensive zone and then rushes up the ice where he pulls off a sweet deke on Henrik Tallinder. Then while Ovechkin is falling to the ice, he still manages to find a way to put the puck past Sabres netminder Patrick Lalime. Followed closely by himself as he too slides into the back of the net, past Lalime.

When asked about how the goal came together, Ovechkin said, "I was tired and I just fell, and I shoot. It was in, so that's pretty cool ... You always want to do some crazy things."

Who's On Santa's Naughty List?

Ho Ho Ho! Hello again Power Players! Your old friend Kris Kringle here. Just checking in for the second part of my Who's Been Nice/Naughty feature where this time around I give you the inside info on who's been naughty.

Some might even say that I'm being naughty right now. Writing on a blog while flying over the Atlantic Ocean! Having just delivered all the presents to good little European boys and girls. Maybe even some future NHLers for Don Cherry to ridicule for their lack of grit!

A little known fact is that my sleigh just had cruise control installed this summer. Along with a satellite radio. XM of course so I can listen to NHL games. So while the technology (reindeers) do all the work, I can kick back with my laptop. Plus it'll be a little while until I reach Iceland so I've got some time to kill.

So what are we waiting for? Let's find out who in the hockey world has been naughty. We all know Ken Beckett, the creator and writer of The Power Play, has been naughty this year. That's what happens when you run an illegal puppy racing league out of your basement.

Barry Melrose
Barry has been on my naughty list for years now. Santa isn't a big fan of mullets you see. What really did him in this year were those comments about never wanting Tampa Bay to win another game. They're already awful enough Barry, you didn't need you to rub it in. And poor young, impressionable Steven Stamkos. Your comments about him not being NHL ready really hurt him. In fact, on his Christmas list this year he asked for your approval and the skills to become NHL ready. How am I supposed to deliver that?

Sean Avery and the Dallas Stars
This one's a no brainer. Sean's sloppy seconds comments were disgusting and Santa doesn't approve. The only sloppy seconds I like are when you dip your cookies into milk and then your second bite of the cookie is all soggy. Ho Ho Ho! Now Dallas, when you signed Avery in the summer to that big contract you knew what you were getting yourselves into. And when you abandoned him and booted him off your team it was a cowardly move. That reminds me of when Rudolph first started out and he was ashamed of his red nose and all he wanted was some courage. Wait, am I mixing up the story of Rudolph and the cowardly lion from The Wizard of Oz? I think somebody might have spiked some of the milk I drank in Europe. I bet it happened in Ireland. They're always pulling drunken pranks like that.

Washington Capitals
To be honest guys, I don't have you on my naughty list but somebody must. How else do you explain all those injuries to your team. Does anybody have any outstanding debts to the mob?

Alexander Semin
A few months ago, Alexander dared to speak out about the "talents" of golden boy Sidney Crosby. How dare he. Sid is the lord and saviour of the league and the most talented man to ever touch a hockey stick. Maybe Semin's comments actually explain all the injuries to the Caps. Karma sure is tough.

Joe Sakic
Yes the Colorado Avalanche veteran is on the naughty list. And I don't use the term "veteran" loosely as Joe is the same age as me! Ho Ho Ho! Sakic's been naughty by not resting and trying to recover from his serious back surgery. He even went so far as to clear out his driveway when it snowed. Well that backfired. While trying to clear out a clog he broke three fingers and will miss even more time. Joe, maybe for Christmas I'll get you a professional who can do those sorts of things for you. Heck, you wouldn't even need a professional. I'm sure you could find a neighbourhood kid who would do it for ten dollars. Or maybe even for some Joe Sakic autographed hockey sticks. Actually, considering how expensive hockey sticks are these days, you had better just give him the ten bucks.

Well that's it for me. There of course have been a lot of other very naughty guys in hockey this year (I'm keeping my eye on you Wayne Gretzky, you know why) but duty calls and all the little children of Iceland need their gifts. Plus I think I saw Dancer and Prancer socializing instead of driving the sleigh. It looks like Santa's going to have to lay down the law.

Merry Christmas to you and yours! And Season's Greetings to everyone who celebrates non-Santa/Christmas related holidays! Ho Ho Ho!

Notable Quotable of the Day

“You want to start a goaltending controversy? Is that what you want? Theo will get his chance to get in again. I mean, I don’t have a controversy by any stretch, but, you know, you want to ride the hot hand. Johnnie’s hot right now"

- Caps head coach Bruce Boudreau answering a reporter's question about a possible goalie controversy brewing between Jose Theodore and Brent Johnson.