Game of the Week - Washington Capitals vs New York Rangers

In this week's episode, we are solemnly remembering the tragedy that occurred on 9/11/01. So, I chose the teams from both cities that were affected the most. I had blogged about the tragedy once it happened that the news revealed the NHL hockey community had lost two of their own

New York and Washington D.C. might be a growing rivalry as both teams had given their all in a 7 game series in the 2014 playoffs a few seasons ago. Ovechkin needed to move on to the next round very badly and the NY Rangers desperately needed to prove that their change in roster and coach could be more fruitful.
Thanks for watching the final broadcast of the game of the week series in NHL 15. I know it was a short season, but NHL 16 is going to continue to be the upgrade in what the series needs. Let me know in the comments section how I did with the broadcast!

Breaking News: Ovechkin Latest "Shanaban" Victim

Brendan Shanahan, NHL's Vice President of Hockey and Business Development and head disciplinarian, has released the video explaining the reasons why the League chose to suspend NHL superstar Alex Ovechkin after a vicious hit to the head on his Penguin opponent during yesterday's high-profile nationally broadcast NBC game.

Watch the video and decide for yourself to see if you agree with their conclusions as well as suitable punishment. Then check out what I have to say about the hit as well as the reputation that should stick to Alex Ovechkin.
This type of behavior has been seen from him before. I don't know why many people chose to turn a blind eye toward his goonish style of play. It's as if the goal scoring trophies and the #1 overall status can inoculate himself against criticisms of his dirty play. He continually gets called "greatest player in the game today", yet would one of those qualifications to make him as such to be a cheap shotting thug? If Alex is the standard in which all players are measured, then this would make Sean Avery a hall-of-famer.

I don't think that the suspension went far enough for someone who is a repeat offender and for the amount of money (in the form of game paychecks) can be easily remade with "Ov8"'s budding rap career. For a person who makes over 100 million dollars, the fine is just pocket change.

What do you think of this hit and weather or not it was appropriate. Won't you please leave a comment below?

Ovechkin Pitches and the Orioles Catch

Alex Ovechkin has taken on some real big criticism about his worth ethic and desire. It doesn't seem to match up to the demands of the Washington Capitals franchise's fans. Here we see Alex just laughing it up and profiling in his new Orioles jersey with his name and number on it. Jersey Foul? Maybe not.Watching this video, I think I've discovered Alex's handicap stunting his achievements in the NHL. He doesn't take things as seriously as his elite superstar contemporaries do.
Remember when Sid Crosby took batting practice at PNC Park? He hit a home run. All Alex Ovechkin could manage was a few foul-offs and a quick bunt. And what about that throw? If Ovechkin could've hit it with his stick, it would have resembled a fastball. Instead he arcs it in like a softball. Weak.

On the good side; Alex does come off as more of a likable personality and his use of the English is getting much better. He's somewhat accomplishing what the NHL would like to see a lot more of. Players becoming visible personalities within the mainstream. I'm sure, the Capitals are going to use this Ovechkin appearance to promote the pre-season game on September 20th at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore.

Ovechkin Parties Hard This Summer

The mark of a really great hockey player who underachieved and failed in the first round of the playoffs would get back to polishing skills and working out even harder. No. Not Alex Ovechkin.

Ovechkin has outdone himself once again to provide an image of a party hard fraternity stereotype by posing with some unidentified women. I don't quite know what the intentions are for these girls, but who thought this might be a good image for the hockey superstar? Do athletes need to appear to be womanizers or show that they can have a lady on their arm at any given moment?

I, for one, am disappointed in this photo because it shows the complete lack of seriousness and dedication that it takes to be a top athlete in any sport. 

Crosby versus Ovechkin: The Fan Vote

As the hype to build a rivalry the same way that Bird v. Magic worked in the NBA, the National Hockey League is pushing the two biggest player names against one another. This time, you can vote, just like you would for the all star game that didn't happen this year.
It seems like a great idea to get the fans involved and finally settle this. Only one problem. I have been noticing a lot of jealousy and hate towards both men because they have nothing to do with the other teams in the league. The jealous critics say that Crosby and Ovechkin are being pushed to the point of ad-nauseum.

You can only imagine just who I voted for!

Ovechkin Gets Two Game Suspension

One of the dirtiest players in the modern NHL era has once again escaped justice with assessing a two game suspension. His latest victim of his irresponsible goonery, BlackHawks defenseman Brian Campbell, will most likely lose the rest of the season due to broken ribs and a broken shoulder.

People like me and the rest of the blogisphere have screamed to the heavens about how reckless Ovechkin plays. Perhaps it is his preformed cranium that makes him not know any better, but what are the excuses that his fans make for his behavior? It worries me that Ovechkin's fans continue to enable him collectively as the ostrich heads in the sand. I've seen Capitals fans who make "Free Alex" signs, who minimize the hit and somehow blame the victim, and some fans around the Internet have even shamefully endorsed Ovechkin's shove. What else bothers me is that now Ovie's coach is quoted with sticking up and invoked a name that doesn't belong in this incident.

"If this was Sidney Crosby doing this, everybody outside of Pittsburgh would have cried foul: 'Suspend him for the year,"' Boudreau said. "I don't think it does the game any good to have Alex suspended."

Perhaps Coach Budrueau has begun to drink the Grape Flavor-aide in the locker-room by irresponsibly suggesting that Ovechkin should get preferential treatment.

I didn't think I could dislike the Washington Capitals less than what I already did, but they found a way.

But don't worry, I don't think that Ovechkin has yet lowered himself to the sociopath levels of a Steve Downie, but pretty soon, Ovechkin's next victim may never be able to pick him or herself off the ice

[Via: Fox Sports]

Ovechkin has Top Selling Jersey

Even though the grasp of the NHL top scorer position is dropping fast, the merchandising arm of the NHL website announced that newest Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is the top selling jersey among fans.

The website blog does not specify that the late surge of Ovechkin fans could have taken the lead when he was named Captain. So, those who forked over $180 bucks for a replica Ovechkin jersey as late as this past October, now has a obsolete (albeit still fashionable) piece of clothing.

Maybe NHL should take a look at perhaps a special Velcro adaptation for players who either have earned a captaincy, or for those players who were stripped of the honor.

Penguins players, Crosby, Malkin and Fleury were listed at two, three, and seven respectively on the list.

[Via: Shop.NHL.com]

Ovechkin Suspended For Agressive Hit

Those of us who belong to a segment of the NHL fans who know what Ovechkin really is has finally breathed a sigh of relief and proclaim to the heavens "IT'S ABOUT TIME!"

The NHL has suspended (albeit grudgingly) Alex Ovechkin 2 games for his careless knee-on-knee hit on Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Tim Gleason. Even though the hit did not cause severe damage to Gleason, this was not the first time that Ovechkin has made a hit like that. If you've followed my blog to this point, the repeated history of the carelessness that Ovechkin continues to show will only increase to a point where somebody breaks a neck or other critical body part.

The controversial nature of this story is only as controversial as the Russian Ovechkin already portrays himself. It put the league in quite a bind to have to suspend one of the league's consistent leading scorers. He's also got a legion of lemming fans that devote some truly blind allegiance to him.

And if this doesn't get you riled up, look at the way that Ovechkin reacts to the Gleason hit.

"It's not a bad injury," Ovechkin said. "I thought it was going to be worse, but thank God I can walk, I can skate. Of course, it's a little bit sore, but it's not that serious."

No mention in that sentence is he at all concerned with his opponent. It's all about him. It's like his selfishness knows no bounds.

Ovechkin should take the advice of Mark Specktor, with his column at Rogers Sportsnet:

What we’re seeing now is Ovechkin beginning to cross the line from aggressive superstar to a kamikaze hitter who can’t handle the fact that he is going to miss sometimes....If Ovechkin wants to run around and throw the big hit, fine. But if he can’t learn to pass up a hit — like on Gleason, who saw him coming and was about to side step the check — then NHL discipline czar Colin Campbell will be forced to step in again.

And I hope that the next step is Ovechkin being banned for life from the NHL!

[Via: Rogers Sportsnet and Spector @ Sportsnet]

Crosby vs. Ovechkin Revisited

Since the Game of the Week shown on NBC Sunday afternoon, some critics and fans are thinking that there might be a changing of the guard among the player elites. Of course, this brought a whole lot of Crosby haters out from under the primordial slime forever poised and ready to launch yet another uncalled for jealous rant. But to rise to the occasion, WXDX and Penguins flagship broadcaster Mark Madden, wrote on his blog page about how to confront Ovie fans and Crosby haters alike.

Mario Lemieux never acted like a jackass. Wayne Gretzky never acted like a jackass. Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull...not a punk in the bunch,.....I know a bad person when I see one. Alexander Ovechkin is a bad person. Sure can score, though.

Great point. Ovechkin showed a side of himself this year that proved he has a mean streak, a juvenile sense of humor, and absolutely no respect for other players.

What seems to have gotten under Crosby's skin (something he admitted to reporters today) was the total lack of respect. Respect. A word that Crosby hammered home in his presser comments. I agree. When Crosby was under attack from Ovechkin's teammate and fellow Russian Alex Semin, Crosby simply chose the high road and opted not to fan the flames of jealousy and hate against him.

Sid Crosby is the poster boy for the NHL and because of that, he has to cope with overexposure. Not his fault. Ovechkin, no matter how much he tries to fit in, just won't get the kind of attention comparable to Crosby. Ask any puckbunny on her preference.

The jealousy for Crosby is real and very evident. This year, the NHL put into their schedule making that every team must play each other once - the Crosby rule. Making sure other NHL city's fans can be exposed to the Penguin greatness. I don't hear of any teams desperately wanting the Capitals to come to their town.

And just who did Ovechkin beat? For all the goal scoring he can accomplish, Ovechkin's Capitals haven't gotten out of the first round yet. When Crosby is sipping out of Lord Stanley's Cup soon, Ovechkin will look at the legacy of oafish goonism around him and cry in his Stolichnaya.

[Via: WXDX.com - Supergenious]

Capitals Increase Ticket Costs Against Penguins

Sure the NHL is going to be a gate driven league, so when team owners realized that they can make more money during increased attendance at rivalry games, "Sweaty Teddy" Leonsis is leading the progressive thinking and increasing ticket prices at the Verizon Center when Sid Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins come to town.

Like the season-opener against the Chicago Blackhawks, and contests against the New York Rangers (Nov. 8 and Jan. 3), Detroit Red Wings (Jan. 31) and the two visits from Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins (Feb. 22 and March 8).

Individual tickets for those games will increase by an average of $15 above their usual cost.

So, if each game in an 82 game season matters just as much as the others, then why do they have to pay more for certain teams? Is this some kind of affirmative action on elite teams? No, wait... if they wanted to get more people in the buildings when weaker teams come to visit, then they would make the tickets cheaper to get more people. Makes sense?

Nate Ewell, director of media relations, told me today that this variable pricing is in keeping with the Capitals' long-standing tradition of trying to fill their building with more home than away fans.

This is always a known fact in Penguins history. Fans of the Penguins will often blog and fling this into Capitals fans faces.

I would call the biggest Penguins rival to be the Flyers, but with the latest hype of Ovechkin and company, the Capitals run a close second in deep seeded hate rivals. This ticket price story is only one more chapter.

Puck Daddy on Yahoo! Sports

Malkin Finalist for Hart Trophy

Russian Hockey Sniper Evgeni Malkin is one of the three finalists for NHL's Hart Trophy (Season MVP). Fans, reporters and other players took notice when Malkin took over the scoring race in Crosby's absence. This news is great for Malkin to perhaps give him some added motivation while playing in MSG tonight against the Rangers in Round 2 Game 3.

Alex Ovechkin and Jerome Iginla are the other two candidates for the league's MVP. We here at COHF were considering a Swiftboating campaign against these other two in hopes that Malkin would get some much needed recognition for his season this year. No word as to how many "super delegates" have already pledged their vote to Malkin or Ovechkin.

[Via: Pittsburgh Tribune Review]

Penguins Vs Capitals Rivalry Faces Revamped Hype

It's going to have a different take this time around as Versus initially hoped they would have a classic match-up of two of the best young NHL superstars in the game. With Crosby hurt, the fledgling new Versus should be scrambling to give viewers a new reason to watch tonight's game.

Leave that job up to one of the best blogs about the D.C. area in Japer's Rink. Last time the Penguins and Capitals met, writers from that blog searched out bloggers' opinions on who they thought would win. This new edition (the link found at bottom) is a sure-fire winner for it's entertainment value. I was contacted and subsequently gave a reply in hopes that the battle blog-esque post grows into a new blogger phenomenon.

Ovechkin is carrying the Capitals, and this match-up will be the first time Pittsburgh has seen him since he signed that ridiculously long contract It would be silly to watch if the Penguins faithful waved fake money at him from their seats in Mellon Arena. Malkin will likely continue his path to breaking out of the Crosby shadow and give the fans something else to ponder about his young team. Is this Malkin's coming out party on national TV? Stay tuned.

Check out what NHL.com has to say about the preview to the game story at their official website.

[Via: Japer's Rink]

Ovechkin A Rich Russian

What is that "The Great 8" now sees in his tinted visors? American money! And perhaps Ovechkin has been looking in the mirror lately because he has been nothing but "money" for the Washington Capitals.

Alex Ovechkin agreed to a $124 million, 13-year contract extension Thursday with the Washington Capitals, working out the details himself in negotiations with owner Ted Leonsis and general manager George McPhee.

I imagine that most Capital fans, like Wes @ The Cabana, are leaping up and down from the Ovechkin cash grab.

Thank you management for re-signing the one player who over the past couple of years has rekindled my love for the game.

I talked a little bit about Ovechkin to my "Washington Insider" over the holidays, and he told me that he suspected that they were going to sign him long term. I liked this deal when it could be speculated that he could be lured back for 10x more money playing back home in the Russian Super league. Locking him up long term was a good move by the Capitals and for the NHL.

But if you didn't live in the nation's capital, you would maybe look at it differently. Crosby made a point to sign for less so that the team could improve, but Ovechkin takes up a lot of cash to become the franchise player. Compared to his media-created nemesis in Crosby, this deal for Alex looks absolutely greedy. There is plenty of questions that I would like to ask the mumbling Russian. Does he make the players around him better? That answer is a definite- NO. Did he not realize that now he must live with that contract? How do you say "no re-negotiations" under the new CBA?

It is good to see him get what he has earned so far with all the goals he scores.

"I'm happy to stay here," Ovechkin told the Assoicated Press. "It's my second home. I like the fans. I like the team. I like everything here."

In the land of American politics, that is a very politicized response to perhaps some rumors leaking on chat rooms believing that Ovechkin could sign with Toronto or Montreal once his rookie contract was done. Alex confirms those rumors with his next quote.

"When you read the newspaper and, like, 'Ovechkin can go over there,' 'Ovechkin can be traded,' you feel it," said Ovechkin. "But then you try and don't think about it, but you think about it. Right now, I think all about my game."

What was that very last part?

[Via: Yahoo! Sports & NHL Network]

Crosby Action Figure 2.0

If you are into collecting hockey merchandise and memorabilia, there is new news in the McFarlane-Spawn company NHL action figures.

Sid Crosby is expected to be included in the next wave of toys and will be featured in the controversial RBK Edge uniforms as well as the captain's "C". This year, Crosby is seen modeled hunched over as if he were ready to dominate a faceoff. Crosby was a real hard find in his previous action figure incarnation and just as hard to acquire on eBay as the asking price was often twice the sticker price.

Flyers fans aren't forgotten either as the link shows McFarlane toys will also produce a Simon Gagne action figure complete with "A" and Edge jersey. I don't know if the demand for Gagne would be comparable to Crosby, but at least it is a deserving tribute to a great player.

...And as dubbed by the media as Crosby's nemesis, Alex Ovechkin's next figure will be included in the 5th wave of hockey superstars to be immortalized in three inch style.

All figures will be expected to be on the shelves in early November 2007. Just in time for the holiday seasons.

[Cross-posted Over at Battle of Pennsylvania]

Crosby VERSUS Ovechkin

Hockey Fact of Life #4: The Capitals will always roll over for the Penguins.

What a difference this season has been for both teams. Ovechkin and Crosby have both proven themselves in the NHL from the get-go, and now their latest challenge is to see if the respective promotion machines for Crosby and Ovechkin can gather more attention and help build the sport back to where it should be.

The new channel Versus tonight was well aware of the rivalry and intended to push all their attention on the one-on-one stat battle between the two #1s. Clement and crew all must have gotten the memo from "up on high" that strongly suggested highlighting the two young stars. In each period break, VS. Network gave an intricate examination of each players ability and studied their fundamentals and showed off their intangible skills. (I wonder what the NHL Network talked about all night?)

So... I think this game tonight really set out a large advantage to Crosby tonight as he can get his team up to the win while the disputed 2006 Rookie of the Year can only salvage a point. Head to head, the Penguins had Ovechkin scouted as they knew that most of "Great 8"s moves come from charging the net fast and poking it through up close. Tonight, the Penguins defense was at least ready to clear the crease and poke-check Ovechkin's attempts. Crosby took what he was given from the Capitals and waited for the one opportunity from the open space and blasted things home. (and of course, Crosby doesn't hit from behind and board someone from behind going for a line-change)

The last laugh is the true story of tonight's game where Evgeny "Geno" Malkin got lost in the pre-game hype and stole the show scoring the beautiful OT winner.

The game hopefully is another watermark in the history of a good rivalry being built that the NHL is banking the future of the league on. And the rising tide of fan support for Crosby has been improving given the choice between the two. After the game, both The Hockey News and NHL Network ran a poll that (although not final) are quite telling as who has the upper-hand. Both websites use an IP tracker, so Ovechkin fans can't claim ballot stuffing. One computer, one vote.