Alexander The Great in the house

Alexander Ovechkin is in town tonight and the Washington Capitals star is the hottest thing going in the NHL right now. He's got it all: A $124-million contract extension, 52 goals, a hat trick Monday against the Bruins. Asked after today's pregame skate how he and his team could keep that momentum going, Ovechkin cracked up the media in his broken English when he said, "It would be fun if we scored 10 goals again."

Asked how the Sabres would defend Ovechkin, coach Lindy Ruff couldn't resist cracking off a couple one-liners and getting another shot in at the whiners in Philadelphia griping about Derek Roy's goal last night.

"We're going to put three guys on [Ovechkin]," Ruff said. "Then we're going to watch [Alexander] Semin and then we're going to watch [Mike] Green on defense. So obviously we're going to have too many men on the ice again."

Ovechkin has gotten the exulted boobird treatment here in the past, the kind reserved for stars like Jaromir Jagr and not the jilted anger directed at Danny Briere. (UPDATE: See comments below. I braincramped and forgot about the Briere incident too).

Asked what his message would be in response to the boos tonight, he looked up at his questioner, smiled and said:

"I love it. Thanks, fans."

Here's everybody's favorite Ovechkin goal, scored last year in Phoenix.

---Mike Harrington

Comments

[Heather B.]

Uh, Mike, I'm aware that they were all goals. He still hasn't hurt the Sabres as much as he's hurt many other teams. That's all I was saying. That and to think the D is better off without Tallinder is, IMO, ridiculous.

[dave]

Ovechkin is only in his 3rd season and already has 150 career goals. He will be the next Gretzky.

[Mike]

Uh yeah Heather, those 3 points Ovech has are all goals.

I was in DC for the Monday game and have seen a bunch of Caps games, the guy is a beast on the ice.

He plays to win and he is built like a brick where you can't knock him off.

[Heather B.]

Greg, Ovechkin only has 3 points in 3 games against the Sabres this season (which is not bad when you look at how he's done against other teams), largely because of Tallinder. If he runs through our defense tonight, some of that is going to be due to Hank's "passionless" absence.

[Mike Harrington]

Was, DanP et al: My bad. The booing of Ovie was a salute but was MOSTLY a reax to the Briere incident as well (how quickly we forget). Will be interesting to see how it goes tonight. As for Teppo, Lindy said after workout this morning there's no news. He's not skating, he's not around, etc. Sounds like out of sight, out of mind, all over for him but filing the papers.

[Greg]

Here's hoping that AO doesn't run around or through our swiss cheese defense and kill us tonight. I'm actually glad Tallinder is out, that guy wouldn't know PASSION if it came up and smacked him in the face.

[Tim]

Since we boo Briere now, shouldn't we cheer Ovechkin?

[waz]

sorry i was not clear. It was his first game back in buff (last year) after he checked briere in wash last year. The fans where brutal on him. Onelarge sign said Ovechicken! (LOL), Even briere gave him a sneaky spear behind the play.

[danp727]

I maybe wrong on this but I thought the boos began for Ovechkin after he took a cheap shot at Briere last year. Briere was headed off the ice when Ovechkin checked him.

I’m sure we’ll miss Tallinder tonight though the defense seemed to play pretty well after he went out last night. I thought Sekera played well, well enough to replace Kalinin next season.

It will be good to see Hecht back in the line-up and the sooner the better. Jason Pominville has quietly put together another good season. Since he plays the point on the power play, I’ve often wondered how he’d do on defense? Wow, talk about a puck moving defenseman!!!

I hope Buffalo takes advantage of home ice and puts this one away early.

Any news on Numminen?

[waz]

I was a boo bird at the game when he returned after the briere "incident". He scored a class goal in that game and cupped his hand to ear for more resounding boo's. I think the buck should stop there, he's class and is great to watch. I hope he bags 70 goals, just none tonite.

[Dave]

having Centier ice and watchin Ovie alot this year, all i have to say is he is the real deal and def my favorite non-sabre. He is exactly what league needs, no sense booin the guy any more just enjoy the show that he displays night in and night out. One gmae this year he lost a tooth and broke his nose and still scored 4 goals in the same game. Its one thing to boo a former player who left for more money or a player like jagr who only shows up when he wants to, but to boo a player like ovie who plays the game the way its supposed to be played is non sense. GO SABRES

[Amanda]

Ovie, like him or not, is exactly what the league needs. He's an exciting player with a great personality. I bought tickets to the game tonight so I could see him play in person. The only other player I do that for is Crosby.