Ovi Having Fun, But Is Mindful Of Caps' Next Game

The NHL All Star Game is a time for fun and relaxation. A time to see players let down their guard and see them in a different light. At the Bell Centre in Montreal, players have a chance to showcase their skills in a non pressure atmosphere. They are not worried about a coach bearing down on them.

While it is a welcome break in the middle of the season, Alex Ovechkin is still mindful of the next challenge in front of the Washington Capitals. In an interview with TSN following his win in the Breakaway Challenge, apart of the Honda Super Skills competition, Ovechkin listed his priorities.

TSN: What can we expect from you [in the All Star Game]?

Ovi: Score a couple of goals, then go back in Boston and beat Boston.

The Capitals are ten points from Eastern Conference leading Boston Bruins. They have also yet to play in Boston. The Caps have defeated Boston both times in their regular season match ups (the Bruins did beat the Caps in preseason action). If they want to catch the Bruins for lead in the Conference, they will have to win these regular season tilts in regulation.

Ovechkin is frank about his intentions. It's okay to have fun here, but it's back to business as soon as the the All Star Game concludes. It is also a call to his teammates who most are taking it easy this week (although a few Caps were spotted at Kettler to get in some ice time during their time off).

The Caps next official practice will be in Boston at Boston College's facility. One of the many things they will be working on recommitting on the penalty kill that has let in a least a power play goal in the past 9 games. In their loss to Ottawa, all three goals were scored when the Capitals were a man down.

The game in Boston will be much like a playoff game. Boston will want to keep it's winning ways going and the Capitals are looking to make up some ground.

NHL ASG Notes:

• The passing fued between Evgeni Malkin and Alex Ovechkin seems to have subsided for the All Star Game weekend. Both were seen talking to one another, shaking hands and Malkin helping Ovechkin with his props in the Breakaway Challenge. "Before he never talk to me," Malkin said in broken English, "Now, he talks all the time."


• Zdeno Chara won the hardest shot competition beating out then Washington Capital Al Iafrate (or Al "I'd be" Iafrate). Although Iafrate did do it with a wooden stick.


• While the crowds showed up in force in Montreal, the crowd seemed lathargic through out the skills competition. Chara's hardest shot and Ovechkin's antics seemed to get the biggest cheers from the crowd, but for the most part the die hard crowd seemed bored through much of the night.


• Tim Thomas is a nice enough guy, but a horrible interview. In every interview he did, he was akin more to a deer caught in the headlights. Although credit him with at least thinking before speaking, even it's taking a minute or two after the question is asked.
  

Some-Stars Game

All-Star. That word used to have some kind of meaning. Like, the best or the most talented. It was a team that was thought to be the best of each conference. A dream team of sorts. This year, it just seems all wrong. And the most talented players seem to be just getting a long weekend off instead of being center stage at the NHL All-Star game.

Part of the flaw is fans choosing the starting line ups. While it seems some players belong there, others don't just because they happen to play in Montreal. Because they are there, that leaves little room for anyone else to be named to the reserve list. If Alex Ovechkin was voted into the starting line up, then the door could have been opened for Mike Green, Alex Semin or Nick Backstrom to be there. Green has to be in the top 6 defensemen in the Conference (if not the league). As it is, it will only be Ovi there for the Capitals.

It didn't seem to be a problem when it came to the Bruins. Zdeno Chara, Marc Savard and Tim Thomas were named even though there is not a single Bruin on the starting line up. Boston maybe first in the Eastern Conference, but Washington is second, and there is only room for Ovi.

As flawed as the NHL All-Star voting process might be, it would be a bigger mistake taking the fans out of the equation. Yes, it's hard to deal with the unemployed Montreal slugs who have nothing to do all day but vote for their "All-Stars." Maybe voting multiple times should come to an end. One fan, one vote. That would make some think more carefully at who their selection might be.

I don't think Caps fans are in a position to whine too much. The Capitals do have the best record through 41 games in franchise history and the fans get to see their All-Stars for every home game. Who needs an All-Star game in Montreal when you could be raising a Cup at the phone booth.

Caps Cool Red Hot Bruins

Capitals 3, Bruins 1
Scoresheet - Wash Post - Globe

The Capitals had bad news, good news before the game against Eastern Conference leading Boston Bruins. Bad news, Tomas Fleischmann would sit out this game with an injury and Oskar Osala got his number called up. Good news (and it was very good news), Tom Poti and Alex Semin were back in the line up. The Caps used it to their advantage as they beat out the Bruins 3-1.

Alexandre Giroux scored the game winner in the second. He could have had two goals when he was awarded a penalty shot but he missed just wide. Nick Backstrom's deflection opened the scoring in the first. It actually quelled any concerns early as the Caps got off on the wrong foot taking a penalty before the game was a minute old. Alex Ovechkin finished with an empty netter goal and an assist.

In a very tight checking game, the Caps held their own. Having Tom Poti back on the blue line was a welcomed sight. He played solid even getting an assist on the game winning goal. In fact a lot of this win was due to a great defensive effort.

Milan Jurcina had one of his better games. When a Boston shot from the point went wide of the net and bounced off the boards on the other side, Jurcina was there to knock over a Boston player that was looking at a wide open net. It was the defensive play that saved the game for the Caps.

Karl Alzner played one of his best games too. In fact he looked very much like a veteran out there, boxing players out, finding the open man and just making good decisions with the puck. Sean Collins has also played very well and nearly had a goal in the first following Backstrom deep in the offensive zone.

Brent Johnson played an inspired game. Even when it looked like the Caps' goaltender was injured, Johnny played through it and came up with some great saves. He was much better about his rebounds, although he still needs to control them better.

Whenever the Caps broke down though, Johnny was there. The only Boston goal was off a bad dump and a bad change late in the second. It ended up being a two on one with Phil Kessel feeding Milan Lucic a dynamite pass and Lucic buried it, Johnson didn't have a chance.

Call-up Oskar Osala played okay, but looked a bit lost at times. There were more than one occasion where he seemed to be on top of one of his linemates as if they were playing the same position. Most of that comes with spending time with your linemates.

Semin's return was okay too, nothing really special. He looks just a step off as one would assume after sitting out for a while. I am sure with a couple more games he will be able to shake off the rust.

Ovehkin's battling with Zdeno Chara was another one of those epic battles that I say ended up in a draw between the two. Chara plays with a lot of confidence against Ovi, and Ovi seems to welcome the challenge. The two were fun to watch all game long.

The Caps sent Bryan Helmer and Keith Aucoin back down. They decided they needed some size against the Bruins. It payed off as the bigger players seemed to cancel out the Bruins big bad guys up front. The Caps have some time to rest up for back to back games against Ottawa at home and then at Montreal Friday and Saturday nights. This is definitely a game the Capitals can build on going forward. As more players return from the infermary, the better this team will be.

Highlights by NHL.com:

Photo AP, Lawrence Jackson: Washington Capitals' Alexandre Giroux, left, celebrates his goal against Boston Bruins goalie Manny Fernandez (35) in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008. The Capitals won 3-1.

Ovechkin Pointless In Three

Capitals 2, Bruins 3 OT/SO (1-2)
Scoresheet – Wash Post

The Capitals fall into penalty trouble late from an unlikely source. Alex Ovechkin, called for delay of game when he threw the puck over the boards into the crowd. Ovie called it the worst game of his life. Zdeno Chara may have had something to do with that, who was always out on the ice when Ovie was and did a fantastic job of keeping the all star forward to two shots and no points.

The Caps again found themselves in a tight game with the Boston boys. Even though we have heard different names scoring (Brooks Laich, Eric Fehr), the Caps are still falling short on getting second and third line scoring. And watching missed opportunity after missed opportunity is getting harder to watch.

Milan Jurcina has been doing a good job in a Caps sweater. Since being acquired from the Bruins, Jurcina played a solid game even saving a goal in the third by getting a kick save of his own. In the last three games he has been a +1 with 10 shots on goal.

Olaf Kolzig had another spectacular night, except for shoot out where Patrice Bergeron still has Olie’s number. Even so, Olie played another solid game, making difficult saves look easy. Kolzig has been the only bright spot for the Caps in the last two games.

The Bruins win the season series after winning all three games in overtime or shootout. The Caps get a chance to steal a game away on the ides of March against the Bruins in Boston. Caps will play LA Thursday at home next. The Kings have already decided their fate for the season, unloading their rosters in hopes of rebuilding the Kings for next season.

Caps get a point as a consolation, but need to start putting more 2 pointers up on the board and protect their home ice. The Caps may look back on this game as a disappointment, but they need to start pushing those close games over to their advantage.